So the long and the short of it is I'm interested in camping as a cheaper alternative to manage holidays.

I've never been camping before, much less on my own with the kid(s).

What do I need to know? Is it really cheaper than a cabin type holiday once you account for all the inital outlays? I assume a tent would be involved, how do I know what size? material? will I be able to set it up on my own without help? Would my regular car be able to manage with the stuff we need? I don't own a trailer.

How do you pick camp sites? How do you secure your valuables (not that we would have many, mostly just money)? Food, what do you do food wise? etc.

Please educate me. Any tips and advice you could give a full fledged newbie would be great.