Bad MAF or O2 sensor is most likely cause. MAF is easy to replace yourself. Someone else on here was doing it and Tool Pants posted a link to the instructions. O2 sensors are ok to do too, but you need to find out what before you go in spending bucks. Btw, those two things are common on all cars. All of the electronic sensors tend to go first.
For the other side of "nickle and diming", I'd rather spend a couple of hundred $$$ here and there than the $5.5K I've spent over the last 1 1/2 years on the Dodge for new tranny, motor mounts/bushings, O2-Cam Timing-Water Temp sensors & all new front end, all for a car I don't like driving but need for the kiddos to get around.