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 & Spensers 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 Car Insurance, M&S Buildings & Contents Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

Shopping for financial products at Marks & Spencer Money UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Marks n 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 Car Insurance, M&S Buildings & Contents 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&Spencer, 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.

There are lots of ways to save money using Marks & Spencer Money. Not least of these is Marks & Spencers Standard Car Insurance. With Marks & Spencer Money you can keep the cost of your Car 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 Car Insurance cover from Marks & Spencer Money, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Car Insurance policies on offer from Marks and 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 Car Insurance from M&S Money, you get more, and you pay less.

Diamanté Detail Compact Mirror, at Marks & Spencer
Round shape Diamant detail Lightweight Clasp fastening

3D Felt Leaf Cushion, at M&S
Square shape Leaf appliqu design L43 x W43cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Easycare Long Sleeve Simple Stripe Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
Smart and stylish, this easycare shirt makes a practical choice for everyday wear

Per Una 3 Button Cardigan, at Marks and Spencer
A casual 3/4 sleeve cardigan featuring neckline embroidery

Embroidered Bouquet Wedding Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover text: Wedding Day Inside message: With love Approx size: Unfolded: 178 x 126mm

Extra Large Outdoor Barrel, at Marks and Spencer
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

Lavender & Camomile Scented Pillow, at Marks and Spencer
Lavender & camomile scented, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Dinosaur Hunt Activity Pack, at Marks n Spencer
Suitable for ages 5+ years Includes dinosaur activity book, dinosaur fact file, 2 x prehistoric board games, 4 x fearsome playing pieces and board game spinner Helps kid's learn more about the mysterious world of dinosaurs Imaginative play This product conforms to the EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Perfect Modal Blend Open Front Cardigan, at Marks & Spensers
Casual and contemporary, this fashionable open front cardigan is made from supersoft fabric that looks and feels great. Modern styling details give a contemporary edge

Campo Aldea Graciano 2004 - Case of 6, at M & S
Style: Medium bodied Grape variety: Graciano Country of origin: Spain Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 14% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.5 Alcohol units per 125ml:1.8 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Pure One Classic DAB Radio, at MarksandSpencer
Frequency ranges: DAB Band III 174240 MHz, L-Band 1452-1490 MHz, FM 87.5108 MHz Timers: Sleep and kitchen timers Speaker: Full-range 3" drive unit Audio power output: 1.8W RMS Input connectors: 12V DC power adapter socket (230V adapter supplied), Mini USB connector for software upgrades, 3.5mm Line in for auxiliary devices Output connectors: 3.5mm headphone socket Controls: Standby; browse & select dial; volume/mute; timer; presets; ReVu; DAB/FM; menu and stations LCD Display: Custom, easy to read LCD with 16 x 2 character display plus status icons Mains power supply: 230V AC to 12V (0.8A) DC external power adapter Battery power supply: Six C (R14) batteries or ChargePAK C6L (not supplied). At normal listening levels alkaline batteries provide approximately 80 hours, and ChargePAK provides approximately 40 hours of portable DAB listening Aerial: Integral telescopic aerial Intellitext: For on-demand access to stored scrolling text from participating broadcasters, for instant access to information such as sports and news headlines Text scan: Pause and control scrolling text, giving you time to note down web addresses, competition phone numbers or song titles USB: Add new features as they become available via USB RDS: RDS support for station name display on FM and RDS scrolling text Charge Pak ready: For maximum convenience add the optional "Fit and Forget" ChargePAK™, for around 40 hours of portable DAB listening 30 presets: 30 presets (DAB or FM) ReVu: Pause and rewind live DAB radio for up to 15 minutes Alarm: Easy to use tone or radio alarm Connection: Connect an iPod/MP3 player or portable CD Dimensions: H14.5 x W21 x D7.2cm (excluding controls) 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 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Die Cut Butterflies Age 7 Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: 7 Happy birthday Inside message: To...from Approx size: 174 x 126mm

Autograph Pure Cotton Embroidered Tee, at Mark & Spensers
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

British Heritage Leather Burnish Cut-Out Shoes, at Marks&Spencer
Enjoy the best of Britain with our British Heritage range. Handcrafted in England, these timeless shoes are made from the finest leather and traditional Goodyear Welted Construction. They include a leather insole and cork filler which moulds to your feet for superb comfort and fit

2 Litre Glass Mixing Bowl, at MarksandSpencer
2 litre capacity Classic shape Transparent, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Fairy Activity Magic, at Mark & Spensers
She can read all about fairies and then create stories of her own with this bright and fun fairy activity pack

Collezione Merino Wool V-Neck Jumper, at Mark & Spensers
Fashionable and contemporary, this v-neck jumper is part of Collezione, a sophisticated menswear collection inspired by Italian style

Pure Silk Zig Zag Tie, at M & S
Add a luxurious finishing touch with this smart zig zag design tie in pure silk

Pretty Pink Bouquet with 50% More Roses, at Marks&Spencer
50% more roses when ordering this bouquet for delivery between 21st August to 5th September 2009 Sophisticated and elegant, this array of roses and alstroemeria blooms perfectly captures the freshness of a crisp summer morning Available for delivery from 1st April to 30th September 2009

Flat Top Silver-Effect Mantle Clock, at M&S
Flat top Rectangular shape Inset dial Analog Glass and brushed metal design Dimensions: 16 x 13 x 5cm Weight: 0.45kg

2 Sonoma Dark Dining Chairs, at Marks & Spencer
H87 x W49 x D56cm Seat: H48cm Sold as a pair Solid oak with leather padded seat Made from solid oak and oak veneer Features natural wood characteristics - knots, figuring, colour variation and end-grain detail Finished with a rich dark stain, followed by 2 coats of durable, clear lacquer of low sheen Chairs made from solid wood Legs made from solid hardwood All joints are glued and pressed together in the factory, giving more inherent strength than flat pack fittings Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item Why use veneers? Unlike solid timber, veneer does not twist/warp/split to the same degree. Only the finest logs are used in veneer production. It is environmentally sound and traditional - much of the finest cabinetry in the world is veneered. Care & Cleaning - Wipe with a soft clean cloth and use a mild furniture cleaner or polish occasionally. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions, and be aware that polishes can add sheen. This product is not available for international delivery.

Pure Wool Chequerboard Rug, at Marks and Spenser
Rectangle shape Chequer board design Small: L140 x W80cm Medium: L170x W120cm Large: L230 x W160cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Big & Tall Flat Front Straight Leg Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
Crisp and smart, these flat front trousers are made from a cool linen blend. Perfectly proportioned for big and tall men

Easycare Long Sleeve Satin Stripe Shirt, at Marks & Spenser
Woven in a no-fuss easycare fabric, long sleeves and double button cuffs add a smart focus to your office look. A practical and convenient choice for everyday wear

Autograph Lash Separating Mascara, at Marks & Spenser
Micro fine brush covers each individual lash and ensures a separated appearance Non-flaking Smudge proof Hypo-allergenic

Autograph Heritage Champagne Flute, at Mark & Spensers
Flute style Graduated base H25cm, 28cl, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Flowers by Post - 15 Sunflowers, at Marks & Spencers
Internet Exclusive Give the simple joy of sunflowers to your loved one and bring a huge smile to their face. These 15 beautiful sunflowers radiate the essence of summer. Flowers by Post is a great value way to spoil someone you know - or yourself

Blue Harbour Cotton Rich Sweat Pants, at Marks and Spencer
Whether you're active or relaxing, do it in style and comfort in these cotton rich joggers

Ceriso Floral Print DD-G Padded Bra, at Mark's & Spencer
Flirty and feminine this modern bra is beautifully detailed with a frill trim and floral print design. Soft padding and underwiring give great support and a fabulous flattering shape. Designed for women who want the latest look

Silver Finish Wood Photo Frame 20 x 25cm (8 x 10"), at Marks and Spencer
Rectangle shape Pine wood border Silver finish Aperture: 20 x 25cm (8 x 10") Dimensions: H30.5 x W38.1 x D2.7cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Contrary to popular opinion, not every insurance company is out to get you, and it's not every insurance company that will disect the fine-print until they find some way of denying your insurance claim. However, you do need to shop around for the financial products and insurance policies that are the best suited for your individual needs.

That's why insurance policies, and other financial products, from Marks and Spencer are so useful. Marks & Spencer Money financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks & Spencer a profit, but there is no denying that they are also very good value for money, offering many features as standard which you'd often need to pay extra for at other insurance companies.

Take, for example, Buildings & Contents Insurance policies. Usually, UK Buildings & Contents Insurance policies have limits on particular types of items such as freezer contents, garden furniture and outdoor toys, outbuildings or cars, etc. These restrictions are called inner limits. However, the only inner limits on the Marks & Spencer Money Buildings & Contents Insurance policy are £500 for cash; £2m for property-owners and personal liability; £10m for domestic employees liability and £40,000 for tenants liability. Even better is the fact that you're likely to pay no more for Marks & Spencer Money Buildings & Contents Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.