In reply to charliehl:
Hi Charlie,
Although still not cheap, you should find UK instructors are less expensive than their alpine colleagues, and well worth the investment to get the best out of your days on the hill. Especially if you can share the cost with a friend making a climbing pair.
Just make sure you use a qualified instructor, which for Winter climbing means an MIC (Mountaineering Instructor Certificate). You can find one here www.ami.org.uk
Good luck
Ian