It really isn't so much a trade-off between the clutch and the brakes - I think you can be good to both. For one thing, I think the benefit to the brakes when down-shifting to a stop sign from 35-45 mph is negligible. I always just brake and then pop into neutral once I'm going slowly enough. When I'm on the highway and slowing to a stop from higher speeds, I always down-shift.
My other piece of advice is to ignore all of this advice until you've driven manual long enough to be really sensitive to the sound of your engine. (I'm assuming you haven't already learned this driving automatics, so forgive me if you already know this.) I never down-shifted (except going down steep hills) during my first couple of months driving because I was still getting used to listening to the engine. Once I learned what my engine sounded like when it was struggling, I was able to down-shift without hurting the car.
In my opinion, driving stick is one of the great joys of life - enjoy your new car!
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"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
(Michael Jordan)
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