Welcome to the weekend! Friday is officially here and you are probably ready to cut loose. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself though, you still have the entire day ahead of you. Luckily, we have a couple of great things for you to do once your work day is over that won’t cost you anything at all. If you happen to be in the UK or plan on visiting anytime soon, this Manchester edition of Dollars & Sense is just for you. Check it out below!
Explore The Manchester Cathedral
Despite being located just behind one of Manchester’s busiest shopping areas, this cathedral, which dates back to 1215, offers a peaceful retreat from the city’s bustle. The stained glass and intricate carving in the building are impressive, and look out for the Angel Stone – evidence of an early Saxon church in the city that dates back to around 700. Check whether there are any special services being offered before you plan a visit.
Address:
Victoria Street, Manchester M3 1SX
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Visit The Manchester Museum
The Manchester Museum is a brilliant place to keep children of all ages entertained as they gawk at Egyptian mummies, the skeleton of “Stan” the tyrannosaurus rex and the animals in the Live Gallery – with monitor lizards, snakes and poison-dart frogs. There were three new Ancient World galleries that opened at the end of 2012.
Address:
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
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Financial Tip Of The Day
Know Your Student Loan Repayment Options
For federal loans, either guaranteed or made directly by the federal government, you can reduce your payments with a graduated, extended, or income-based repayment plan. With the graduated plan, your payments start low and then gradually increase, usually every 2 years, which is best if you expect your income to increase rapidly. With the extended plan, you can stretch your payments over a period of up to 25 years but you must have an outstanding loan balance greater than $30k and your overall costs will be higher because of the increased interest. With the income-contingent or income-sensitive plans, your payments fluctuate each year based on annual income, household size, and loan balance so it’s best if you expect your income to be low or unstable.
