One of the luxuries most of us can't afford is a companion. Who wouldn't love having someone around for conversations when we get lonely? This becomes a worse problem as we get older or as our family members get older and need their own companions.

Companion services seems to be one of those areas that most people think is for the well-to-do - not something they or their loved ones could benefit from. But that's not the case. By doing an exchange (room and board for companion help, for example), you could have this type of service in your own home.

There are several forms of these services:

• Companion for seniors - After my grandfather died, my grandmother was extremely lonely for years because he really was her best friend. By bringing in a companion, we could have helped her not feel quite so lonely and could have more easily got her involved in other aspects of society, such as movies.

• Travel companion - I know lots of single people who hate traveling or going on trips alone. It can be scary but also very boring to have this great experience but no one to share it with. By doing an exchange, you could bring someone along to be your travel companion. They could see some fabulous sights and you'd have someone to keep you company along the way.

• Free Child Care - Most parents, myself included, don't like the idea of our children being at home alone even when they are clearly capable of doing so. My daughter is 17, and I worry about her even if I'm only going across town to do some shopping. Having a companion around for your child can be a real plus in this way. They can be a friend, confidante, etc.

• Helpers - Companions and homemakers make a great pair, too. A stay at home parent whose children have started school or left for college could probably benefit greatly from a companion to help ease her that loneliness.

Basically, with these are the types of services you don't want to have to pay for. But when you're making this type of exchange, it's much easier to see each other as a friend and less like an employee/employer.

With the economy struggling and most families feeling the pinch, doing something as simple as home care and maintenance can be a challenge. If both parents are working and are feeling stressed about their finances, household chores are likely to get neglected and funds are scarce for outside help for lawn care, home repairs, or even maid service.

One alternative is to become a host family. You could provide a person with free room and board in exchange for providing some of the help you need around the home.

Here are some ways this could be useful:

• Affordable lawn maintenance - The live-in person could mow your lawn, trim the bushes, even tend to your garden if he or she has a green thumb and no pesky allergies.
• Help with laundry and other chores - If you have a large family, doing the laundry, cooking meals, even loading the dishwasher can be a time-consuming struggle. Having another pair of hands to help could be a huge asset.
• Home maintenance help - If your home is like most, there are some minor repairs that need to be made. Maybe the front door is sticking or the screen door in back is ripped. Maybe you need to replace the tiles in the kitchen or the carpet in the living room. Bringing someone in to help with these problems can save a lot of time and money.
• Maid service alternative - Instead of paying someone a lot of money to clean your home, you could be offering someone a place to stay and warm food for their services. They could be a college student, a retired person, a traveler, or a recently unemployed worker.

Additionally, you could bring them into your home to be both companions and homemakers. If both parents are working, the children may like having someone available when they come home so they don't have to go to a babysitter. Stay-at-home parents might appreciate the grown-up company and the extra hands as they struggle to keep the house running smoothly. Overall, this arrangement could be a win-win situation for everyone involved.