Welcome back to the work week. The weekend was probably amazing, but here we are once again with an entire week ahead of us and what feels like forever until the next day off. Luckily we have some great things for you to do today to take your mind off of the week ahead, and the best part is that it’s all free. In today’s installment of Dollars & Sense, we are focusing on Dublin, Ireland. Check it out below!
Browse The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks
Ireland’s National Museum boasts three sites in Dublin – and the imposing buildings overlooking the river Liffey at Collins Barracks are treasure houses of spectacular collections of silver, jewellery, furniture and ceramics from Ireland and abroad. The new Reconstructed Rooms exhibition, with its objects housed in purpose-built replica rooms, is especially impressive.
Address:
Benburb Street, Dublin 7
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Visit The Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle was founded in 1204 as the main centre of British rule in Ireland. Today, this sprawling complex houses a number of free museums (including the Chester Beatty Library, below), as well as tranquil gardens, the Gothic Chapel Royal, the Viking-era Undercroft and the splendidly ornate State Apartments, which once housed the court of the British Viceroy. Plan on at least two or three hours to get a true sense of the Castle’s attractions.
Address:
Dame Street, Dublin 2
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Financial Tip Of The Day
Pay Off Higher Interest Debt First
It might be tempting to pay your student loans as fast as you can, but student loans aren’t the only debt that most graduating students have. According to a Sallie Mae study in 2009, over 90% of college students had at least one credit card and graduating seniors had an average of over $4k in credit card debt. With an average interest rate of almost 17% on student credit cards, paying these off should be a higher priority than paying down student loans early.
