Renting a cheap car does not necessarily mean breaking the bank. There are ways of getting discounted rental cars and saving money.
First and most importantly, get the smallest car that will satisfy your needs. The bigger and fancier the car, the more money you will spend. This is especially true for sport utility vehicles and minivans; they can be significantly more expensive, and if you do not need the extra room, it is in your best interest to rent a sedan, or smaller vehicle.