Training and the Independent Consultant

I am wondering (after I just looked at some training prices) how Training Companies think that small firms and Independent Consultants can afford up to date value added training. From as little as $300 to some week long courses at $2500 a pop, how can an Indu Con even consider getting new certificates?

If anyone has a way of doing it, other than long hours scouring the net and trial and error, I would love to know how to fit that into the budget of an INDU CON.