Not so long ago, only banks and traditional insurance companies offered financial or insurance products, yet today it may often seem as if even the local corner shop is offering financial products. That's not quite true, of course, but many more companies do offer financial products than used to be the case, and it can sometimes be difficult to decide who is offering the best deal.

And, while Mark's & Spencer once offered mostly fashion products, with the only hint of a credit card being when you paid for your shopping at the checkout, today you'll find as good a deal on M&S credit cards as you will with the latest range of M&S fashion.

In fact, these days M&S, through its Marks & Spencer Money website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Household Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

There are lots of ways to save money using Marks & Spencer Money. Not least of these is Marks & Spensers Standard Motor Insurance. With Marks & Spencer Money you can keep the cost of your Motor Insurance down by choosing Standard cover, over Premier Cover. UK Vehicle can then be added to your policy as optional extras, if you wanted to.

If you're thinking of adding both Breakdown Cover and Motor Legal Protection, then it would cost less to upgrade to Premier Motor Insurance cover from Marks & Spencer Money, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Motor Insurance policies on offer from Mark's & Spencer, and these include: Courtesy car (subject to availability); Loss, theft, damage and destruction of vehicle; Loss or damage to personal property in vehicle; Personal accident cover up to £10,000; Windscreen cover (£75 excess); a 24 hour claims service, and many other options as standard on each policy. In short, with Motor Insurance from M&S Money, you get more, and you pay less.

When you're shopping at Marks & Spencer online store for your summer outfit, or looking for furniture to give your home a makeover, then spend a moment to also consider products from Marks & Spencer Money. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Household Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Mark's & Spencer than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from Marks & Spencer Money. With images of volcano ash still fresh in many traveller's minds, it's good to remember there were many travellers who ended up wishing they had spent just a few pounds extra to obtain travel insurance for their trip. Of course, unfortunately, after the event is too late!

In fact, had you purchased travel insurance from Marks & Spencer Money, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the Marks & Spencer Money website would have seen a message stating that although claims relating to volcanic eruptions are not normally covered by travel insurance, that on this particular occasion, they would "allow claims from UK customers affected by the volcanic ash that has recently grounded flights."

Blue Harbour Luxury Plain Shirt with Silk, at Marks & Spencer
Stylishly smart casual, this comfortable shirt looks great dressed up or down

Gold Plated Hooped Drop Earrings, at Marks & Spenser
Butterfly fastening Hoop design For hygiene reasons, refunds will only be given in accordance with your legal rights

Short Sleeve Thermal Vest, at Marks and Spenser
Soft, warm and cosy, this cotton blend thermal vest are designed to give comfy insulation, perfect for chilly weather

Things That Go! Stamper Book, at Marks & Spencer
Have fun together reading the simple text about things that go, then encourage your child to use the sturdy stamper to print pictures of their favourite machines

Girls' Limited Pure Cotton Bubble Hem Denim Skirt, at Mark's & Spencer
Part of Girls' Limited, a contemporary casual collection in trend-conscious styles and soft comfortable fabrics, designed for easy layering. Perfect for stylish girls who love looking fashionable

Cascade Bead Y Design Necklace, at Marks & Spencers
Clasp fastening Adjustable length Cascade bead Y design Multi strand Necklace length: 49cm, extendable by 8cm

40 Denier Sheer Opaque Tights, at Marks & Spencer
These comfortable 40 denier opaque tights are made with added stretch and a reinforced toe for durability

Walkmates Sporty Riptape Trainers, at Marks & Spencers
Click here for more information on Walkmates shoes Double riptape fastening Round toe Contrast stitch detail

Autograph Pure Silk Check Sketch Scarf, at Marks and Spencers
Add a luxurious finishing touch to your look with this elegant pure silk check sketch scarf. The perfect accessory to this season's styles

Per Una 3/4 Sleeve Knitted Top & Scarf, at Mark's & Spencer
Comes with the scarf shown A fashionable knitted top featuring an open knit trim

Per Una Pure Cotton Embroidered Neck Top, at Marks & Spensers
A fashionable short sleeve top in pure soft cotton featuring an embroidered neck embellishment

Autograph Semi-Plain Collection Pure Cotton Towel, at M&S
3 piece set Hand towel: L90 x W50cm Bath sheet: L120 x W70cm X Large bath towel: L140 x W100cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Clear Glass Coffee Table, at Marks & Spensers
H38 x W120 x D60cm Contemporary clear glass design Made from clear glass Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy this table as part of a set. Click here to view the Clear Glass Collection Set. , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Quartz Faux Metallic Wall Clock, at Marks and Spencer
Round face Standard numerals Faux metallic finish H28 x D28 x W2.2cm Weight: 0.5kg, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Extending Floor Lamp & Shade, at Marks & Spensers
Antique brass finish steel Fabric shade 40 x 162cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Nintendo DS™ LEGO® Batman®: The Videogame, at Marks and Spencers
Fight for justice as Batman and Robin or create chaos as The Joker, Catwoman and other villains, as you save or wreak havoc in Gotham City Rocket through sewers and bound across rooftops as you take the fight to the criminals across classic locations in Gotham City Fight on land, sea and in the air using a number of powerful Batman, Robin and villain-controlled vehicles, including the rocket-powered Batmobile, sleek Batboat and stealthy Batwing Enhance the abilities of the Dynamic Duo by unlocking Batman's Demolition, Sonic and Glide suits and Robin's Gravity, Magnetic and Dive suits to help fight Gotham's villains Play through the game in Story Mode from both the hero and villain sides The Nintendo DS version will offer touch screen interaction, and two-player co-op using the DS local wireless network capability You must be 7 years of age or over to purchase this product M&S is a member of the WEEE Distributor Take Back Scheme. Recycling your electronic waste has never been easier! Click here for more information, Platforms: Nintendo DS, ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults

25 Soft Vanilla Room Scenters, at Marks and Spenser
Pack of 25 Soft vanilla scent Burns upto 4 hours each, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Roma Bootleg Belted Jeans, at Marks and Spencer
A stylish bootleg pair of jeans in stretch cotton featuring an on the waist design. Comes with a silver plated belt, making it extra stylish

Stainless Steel Meat Scissors, at Marks & Spenser
Stainless steel It is a criminal offence to sell scissors to anyone under 18 years of age, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Wool Blend Double Breasted Coat, at Marks & Spencers
Part of Kids' Autograph, a luxurious collection of beautifully designed clothing in high quality fabrics with superior finishing details. Kids' Autograph gives a stylish well-dressed look

Jacquard Front Floral Full Briefs, at Marks and Spenser
Stylish and flattering, these full briefs give complete coverage at the front and back and are extremely comfortable to wear

Appliqué Heart Dressing Gown, at Marks and Spencer
Wrap up and relax in this soft dressing gown featuring an Appliqu heart design for a pretty look

Extra Large Outdoor Barrel, at Marks & Spensers
With a vibrant collection of conifer, geranium, lavender, primrose, osteospermum and hedera, this charming planter will brighten any courtyard or patio Available for delivery until 30th September 2009

Limited Collection Plain Underwired T-Shirt Bra, at Marks & Spencer
Fun and fabulous, this t-shirt bra is part of our Limited Collection lingerie. It's perfectly smooth so you won't get any visible lumps and bumps under your clothes. For a funky look, mix and match with coordinating lingerie from Limited. Casual, contemporary fashion

Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo 4GB, at MarksandSpencer
Optimum for storing, sharing and transferring thousands of high quality pictures, videos and music Memory: Flash Memory Storage Capacity: 4GB Dimensions: 20 x 31 x 1.6mm Weight: 2g Operating Voltage: 2.7 V - 3.6 V Environmental temperature: -25C to 85C Minimum write speed: 15 Mbps(1875MB/sec) Free to Download, the Memory Stick Data Rescue Service enables quick recovery of deleted photographs and files(www.sonydigital-link.com/memstick/) Warranty: 5 years Delivered with a standard size adaptor Ideal for high resolution video recording Compatible with copyright protection technology ("MagicGate")

Abbot Chair, at Marks and Spencers
H78 x W76 x D78cm Seat H43cm, arm H71cm Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Solid birch feet with a dark finish Free swatch samples: Order up to 6 free swatch samples of any fabric to help you choose your upholstery by calling 0845 603 1 603 Seams and pattern match on fabrics - Please note that the images of fabrics displayed here are overlaid onto models. These images act as a guide and may not be representative of the finished product. Seams and pattern match may differ from what is shown This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Double Breasted Reefer Coat, at Marks & Spenser
The reefer coat is a flattering and fashionable must-have. This version, featuring double breasted design, will look great teamed with this season's styles

Angel Sleeve Tie Front Cardigan, at Marks and Spencers
Modern and stylish, this cardigan features a tie fastening. A great work-to-evening style

Design Mats - DAMASK, at Marks & Spenser
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Montreal 2-Seater Sofa, at M&S
H94 x W198 x D104cm Seat H44cm, arm 63cm, top back rail 70cm (all dimensions are approximate) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Other cushions filled with polyester fibre. Gives a soft sit with a lived-in look, which will soften and relax even further with use. Fibre is sewn into channels within the interior to prevent settlement in one area of the cushion Fabric options feature reversible seat cushions Frame made from solid hardwood. All main joints are glued and screwed to give the frame strength Frames are rigorously tested with 95kg weight equivalent and exceed standards set for heavy domestic use Solid birch feet with a medium finish All of our fabrics are treated with Stain-Defence& trade; - a stain resistant finish - at no extra cost. Fabrics are tested for resistance to wear and fading Detailed care instructions are included Free eco-friendly home delivery. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more Free swatch service: Order up to 6 free swatch samples of any fabric to help you choose your upholstery by calling 0845 603 1 603 Please note: Images displayed here act as a guide and may not be representative of the finished item. Fabrics are overlayed onto model images, so actual seams and pattern match may differ from what is shown. Leather furniture, in particular, has more seams that fabric upholstery due to the nature of the material, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Shopping for financial products at Marks & Spencer Money UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Mark's & Spencer online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the Marks & Spencer Money website:

• M&S Insurance: M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Household Insurance, M&S Life Insurance, M&S Wedding Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance
• M&S Credit Cards: M&S Credit Card, M&S Premium Club Card
• M&S Loans: M&S Car Buying Plan, M&S Personal Loans
• M&S Money: M&S Travel Money for your trips abroad
• M&S Savings: M&S Everyday Savings Account, M&S Fixed Rate Savings, M&S Stocks & Shares ISA, M&S Cash ISA, M&S Unit Trust

Of course, many of these types of product can be purchased elsewhere too; however, once you begin to take a closer look at the products from Marks & Spensers, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

And, just as importantly, contacting Marks & Spencer Money in the event of a query, or an insurance claim, is as easy as picking up the phone, or visiting the Marks & Spencer Money website.