Sure a holiday gathering may be a good idea, you're thinking, but your family doesn't have the budget for a cruise or exotic trip.

CNN: Taking the kids: Gather away from home for the holidays

And for the family planning that national park road trip this summer, their budget is now as bloated as those prices at the gas station.

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It's a low-budget comedy about a dysfunctional family's road trip taking a seven-year-old to a beauty pageant.

NPR: 'Little Miss Sunshine' Wins Producers' Guild Honor

At the other end, there are cheap and free smartphone applications to enhance the trip or help you plan your gasoline budget.

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Even customers who typically rent a budget-mobile will sometimes splurge for a birthday or anniversary trip or to impress a client, a date or classmates at reunions.

WSJ: The Rise of the Rent-a-Porsche

For about 10 million children in the United States, a trip to the doctor can mean a serious drain on the family budget.

CNN: New York fills gap between insurance, Medicaid

The Prime Minister's hospital "Trip Advisor" may find itself overloaded if Newark and King's Mills struggle because of budget pressures.

BBC: NHS budget squeeze: PM gives new commitment