You Don't Need to Pay for a Babysitter

Will you be sitting at home on yet another weekend? Why? Is it because you don't want to pay for childcare or you feel it's just too expensive? There are alternatives that worked great for me when our two boys were little.

Try:

• Trading with another person you trust. I'll watch yours and then you watch mine. Offer to do the watching first. You'd be surprised how great this works out.
• Start a babysitting coop. When we lived in Colorado, our neighborhood already had one set up. We had bylaws, meetings and everything. As our little ones grew, it turned into a "Girl's Night Out". After all these years, I am STILL in contact with a few of these ladies.
• Trade tit for tat. This means you offer a "like item" for their babysitting services. For example, if you have an elderly neighbor who may still be spry enough to handle your kids, how about you mow their lawn or prune their hedges? Make sure it's something they need or really appreciate....ask them for ideas first...and make sure it is something somewhat reciprocal in value.
• Check your local Child Development Center or YMCA for options. Many have monthly "Parents' Night Out" sessions. They typically fill up fast, but stay on alert for the days and times. Our local YMCA actually offered this service FREE of charge.

What do you do when you want a night out or some time without the little ones? Please do share!