Kat, I have no experience of baritone uke or tenor guitar but in answer to your question about preferences with stringed instruments, the tenor banjo is my favourite.As regards other instruments, I feel that the mandolin banjo is a badly underated instrument. I think that they are great fun. I don't know what the situation is where you live but over here, I have seen a few second hand ones in perfect playing order and sounding reasonable going for about £40.
Jon