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.

As parents, we have to make some tough choices in life. We want to provide the best we can for our children but sometimes we also need to have that second income to pay the bills - not for luxuries but just to cover the mortgage, put food on the table, and maybe save some for college. But working usually requires child care for our little ones and that can cost a fortunate, as well as requiring your child to stay in a stranger's home.

A better solution is free in home child care. Now you're probably saying that would be an obvious solution but not necessarily a practical one. Where are you going to find free child care?

The answer is through a work in exchange for rent program. If you have a spare room in your home and can spare enough money to feed an extra person, you could have the child care you want for your child at no additional cost and done in your home.

Obviously, there are some risks associated with bringing a stranger into your home to care for your children. However, you can do background checks on people and other criminal history checks to ensure your child is safe and receiving the best home care you could want. Plus, since you'll be receiving free in home care for your child, you could take additional steps, such as placing cameras in the home (this is not something I would recommend because it can be an invasion of privacy for both your child and the caregiver).

Take your time and get to know the person who will be providing the care in your home before they arrive. And make sure your children meet them, too, and get along with them. Whether the babysitter is living in your home or has a place of their own, you are still trusting your child to someone you don't know very well. But with this type of arrangement, you can get to know the care provider better and take precautions to ensure your child is going to be save while also receiving child care for a price you won't find anywhere else.