Well, one option in some countries is having a local volunteer rather than a professional guide. I used Welcome Guides in Japan and Buenos Aires, they're organized but free. I believe couchsurfing.com has people who will meet you for coffee rather than putting you up for the night. And I have found walking tours in some places very good - notably London and San Francisco. The architecture societies in Chicago and San Francisco also put on good tours - all of those cost a lot less than a private guide.

Ah but Jay, we didn't pay him to explain the cricket match. We paid him for bird guiding. This was just bonus. I think, from reading your posts, that you don't personally see the value of a guide for yourself (and that is fine). That doesn't mean, of course, that it isn't a valuable experience at times, just maybe not for you. Only you can judge.