1998 Daewoo Nubira oil usage

Engine Mechanical problem
1998 Daewoo Nubira 4 cyl Manual 180000 miles

what happened in order of occurral:
- oil pressure light came on and off then basically stayed on except for a while after oil topped up.
- car requiring top up of oil regularly when previously from service to service this was not required.
- white smoke from exhaust, can't perceive any blue tinge but maybe that's just me!
- after driving car when you open the hood there is oil around the cap where you top up the oil.

These things happened in progression not all at the same time except for maybe the white smoke from the exhaust as this was only checked after point two.

I don't intend on keeping the car for too long so would like a cheap solution, if possible, that would keep it going until I can afford a replacement.