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Andrew Kulin is so right in his advice. I have been building up a lens collection since I bought a Canon 400D as my first DSLR. I upgraded earlier this year to a 550D, which also has an eighteen mp sensor as your's does, albeit just the one processor. For the last two years I have been more selective in my choice of lens upgardes and have sold off three "average" lenses along the way, at a considerable drop in return.
Sharp zoom lenses don't come cheap. The first of my "keepers" at the present time is a Tamron 17-50 f2.8, not the later image stabilised version as I believe the standard lens is sharper. This is a great little lens; plenty of light gathering capability and pretty much pin sharp across the range.
My latest purchase is a Canon usm 70-200 f4 is. I was so close to buying the cheaper (almost half the price) non is version you are considering, but decided to push the boat out and get the is version for the benefits of the 3 to 4 extra f stops image stabilisation gives. Incidently, for about the price of the f4 is version, I could have got the 2.8 non is version. From advice and information gathered here and elsewhere, I was lead to believe the glass in the current 70-200 f4 is produces as sharp images and some claim sharper images than the f2.8 non is version. It is also considerably lighter. This is my second "keeper" lens, and I love the lens more than is socially acceptable!
My "do it all" lens is a Tamron 18-270 vc. I was worried about the quality of this lens particularly in regard to image quality when married to an eighteen mp sensor. At the long end it does tail off, but between18 to 250 it gives perfectly acceptable results, and at 70 to 150 far better results than I expected. It can not be compared to the sharpness of the Canon 70-200, but as an all purpose snapshot lens it's far better than I anticipated.
You already have the best lens per £ that money can buy in the shape of the Canon 50 f1.8.
Save your money up for decent glass and don't compromise too much on "cheap" alternatives. Second hand is also an option, but decent glass retains high second hand value.
All the best in your final choice
Rick Barry
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