If you've ever tried to work out the true full-and-final cost of a flight on a budget airline and thought 'Tsk. You need a ruddy degree for this,' read on.
Update May 2009: Rynair's list of charges - possibly the most useful page on the Web
Let's break down a couple of offers out there at the moment. Ryanair is offering more of its 1p bonanzas, which includes flights to Stockholm from London Stansted. Meanwhile, the traditional airline SAS has a seat sale with one-way flights for £39 each from Heathrow. Both have availability for February half-term. So who to choose? Ryanair is cheaper, right?
The SAS option for two adults and two children under 16, which includes allocated seats, check-in, baggage allowance and taxes but not meals comes in at a shade under £250. That's around £62 each, even cheaper than the advertised headline rate because children get 33% off. This is a brilliant deal.
With Ryanair on the other hand it seems to be anyone's guess. Basic flights plus taxes come in at around £150 for four. Not bad. But that doesn't include getting checked in. Or baggage. Or allocated seats. Checking in with a bag in the hold each cost £18 x 4 = £72. Priority boarding so there's a chance you might sit together a further £6 each, or £24. These charges are not specified on the page designed to explain the hidden charges. On another page there's something described as a 'handling charge' that it says is not included but doesn't then doesn't say what it is. There's probably more. Even without any extra unknowns, the family of four with a bag each and a chance of a seat together will pay... the same as SAS, give or take about three quid.
And what you should do this lunchtime and any luncthime you are considering booking a low-cost flight is to compare the traditional carriers. One of the great things about these new airlines is that they have pushed down prices across the board.
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Footnote: Ryanair also has a 0p fare offer running at the moment. But 'All Holidays, School Breaks and Major Sporting Events are excluded from this offer' - doing your average family wishing to travel during half-term out of 4p.
On Ryanair
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>> Ryanair hikes bag and check-in charges
>> Ryanair rapped for 'provocative schoolgirl' ad
>> Welcome to the flight, please have your credit card ready
For part six of the plan is: put six month's worth of outgoings in a tax-free cash mini Isa savings account.
It comes in the form of your company pension. If you pay in every month, your company tops it up and so does the taxman. In almost all circumstances the advice is, if your company has a pension scheme you should join it. 
But if Christmas, and the Nintendo Wii, the entire range of High School Musical paraphernalia and the new telly and the car, oh and that holiday still have to be paid for, right now is when you have to start paying. And if it's on your credit card(s) you could have a problem. 
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