Shopping at small businesses may offer more benefits than you know, including access to exclusive deals and insider information. To start this episode, Sean and Liz talk about the benefits of shopping at small businesses.

Then they answer a listener’s money question about whether switching to a hybrid vehicle is a smart financial move right now.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

Timestamps:

This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 10:14

Money Question segment: 10:15 - 31:07

Also, we have a callout for parents who listen to Smart Money. We are working on a new series about the cost of child care, and we want to know: How are you paying for child care? Where does it fit in your budget? And have you had to make sacrifices to make these costs work?

Leave a voicemail on the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373, or email a voice memo to podcast@nerdwallet.com. Tell us how you're making child care costs work for you and your family.

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Small Business Benefits, and Buying a Hybrid