Hi,
Welcome to CEG. I encourage you to take a look at the
Common Problems page off of the main page, as this was a common complaint with manual transmissions.
http://contour.org/FAQ/FAQ.php?s=probs&displayid=22
Do you notice that its easier to shift as the car warms up?
You probably just need to replace the fluid. This is an easy DIY project. No need to fork over your hard earned cash to a mechanic. Its easier than changing the oil.
Good Luck