Need help please....manual or auto???

[monkeymagic]

Hi,

Im totally new here and would really appreciate any help anyone could give me!!! i am a typical 'girl' who knows not alot about cars (no offense to all the girls out there who do know alot......but you know the stereotype im putting myself under here!).
Ive passed my test recently and am on the lookout for my first car.
im opting for a nissan micra (cheap and reliable) but could anyone answer me this one question....
....should i go for manual or automatic???? is there a huge cost difference to do with maintenance and repairs or what? im not worried about speed of offset and so on i was just wondering.

any help id be sooooooooo greatful