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 Marks & Spencer, through its M&S Financial Services 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 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 M&S Financial Services UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Marks and Spencer online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the M&S Financial Services website:

• M&S Insurance: M&S Car Insurance, M&S Buildings 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 M & S, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

And, just as importantly, contacting M&S Financial Services in the event of a query, or an insurance claim, is as easy as picking up the phone, or visiting the M&S Financial Services website.

Mark & Spensers may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Buildings Insurance or Car Insurance, but Marks and Spencer do indeed offer a comprehensive selection of financial products, all of which are competitively priced, and all of which you can purchase directly from the M&S Financial Services website. With a simple, no-hassle service, you can compare features between a number of M&S Finance products and competitor's products, and sign up in just a few minutes.

Whether you're looking for savings products or M&S Financial Services loans, credit cards or Buildings Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, M&S Financial Services can save you both time and money, with comprehensive information available at a click.

Free insurance quotes are available online for all of M&S Financial Services insurance products (Buildings Insurance, Car Insurance, Travel Insurance, Wedding Insurance and Pet Insurance), or you may call if you wish to on the telephone number provided. Suffice to say that there is also plenty of information which you can download for each of the Marks and Spencer insurance products in document format too.

Abbey Love Seat, at Marks & Spensers
H95 x W137 x D102cm Seat H54cm (all dimensions are approximate) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Fabric options feature reversible 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 dark finish All of our fabrics are treated with Stain-Defence™ - 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 samples: 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 than fabric upholstery due to the nature of the material, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Sunny Town Policemen Set, at Marks & Spencers
2 policemen and police car Promotes imaginative play Suitable for ages 12 months + This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Double Breasted Nancy Mac, at Marks & Spencers
A fabulous double breasted mac in stretch cotton. Weave design button details give it the Per Una touch

2 Tiga Leather Dining Chairs, at Marks and Spencer
H87 x W47 x D59cm Seat: H43cm Sold as a pair Made from solid sheesham with a leather seat Treated with a protective low-sheen lacquer that provides added durability Made from solid wood for strength Legs made from solid wood 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. Find out more SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy these chairs as part of a set. Click here to view the Tiga Collection Set. , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Stainless Steel Avocado Slicer, at Marks and Spencer
Looped handle for hanging storage L21cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Print Your Own Graphic Heart Order Of Service or Menu Cards, at Marks & Spencer
Pack Contains: 10 x order of the day/service or menu cards, 12 x folded insert sheets, 10 ribbons, 1 sheet of glue dots, 1 x instruction leaflet, N.B. The CD-ROM is not included in the pack and is available separately. Approx size: 218 x 154mm As this stationery is not intended for use as invitations, envelopes are not supplied in this pack. The cards in this pack are made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests Use the print your own CD-ROM or download the free version. Download free software to personalise the stationery

Long Sleeve Stripe Fleece, at M+S
Soft and comfy, this fashionable stripe fleece is outstanding value. A practical easycare style

Animal Print Halterneck Bikini Top, at Marks & Spenser
Stylish and elegant, this fashionable bikini top features a striking animal print. A fabulous fashionable look

Airflex™ Wide Fit Mud Guard Lace Up Shoes, at M&S
These shoes are specially designed with the Airflex™ sole system using the latest technology to provide your feet with utmost comfort, support and grip

Collezione Pure Merino Wool Slipover, at M & S
Part of our exclusive Autograph collection, this luxurious slipover is made from pure merino wool so it feels soft and comfortable to wear. Practical as well as stylish, it's hardwearing and keeps its shape

Barletta 2 Seater Sofa AU09 Newness, at Marks and Spencer
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Gold Diamanté Hearts Engagement Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover text: On Your Engagement Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Collezione Pure Wool Single Pleat Stripe Trousers, at Marks n Spencer
Italian tailoring is renowned for its sophisticated style. Each collezione suit is designed with that same passion, using the finest fabrics and best tailoring techniques. Inspired by Italian flair, we've lavished time and care on this garment to give you a feeling of luxury like no other

Pure Cotton Plain Dye Mats, at Mark's & Spencer
Textured edging Latex gripped backing Sizes sold separately. Customers should select which mat size they wish to purchase from the drop down menu, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Roma Self Stripe Bootleg Trousers, at Marks & Spensers
A smart pair of bootleg trousers featuring self stripe design

Large Fridge Mum Birthday Card, at Marks & Spensers
Cover text: "I wish I'd known" thought Mum, "I haven't got a lot in..." Inside text: Blank for your own message This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Size: 150 x 150 mm

Per Una Pure Linen Knee Length Skirt, at Marks & Spenser
A pretty knee length skirt in pure cool linen featuring a ziggy flow print

Autograph Bling Scottie Keyring, at Marks and Spencers
Chain link Scottie dog design Diamant detail

Leather Reversible Belt, at Marks&Spencer
Define your waistline with this fashionable reversible leather belt

Handcrafted Heart Husband Birthday Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover Text: To my wonderful husband Inside Message: With all my love Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Sprung Edge Divan with 4 Large Drawers, at Marks & Spencers
Layer of springs to provide comfort and support while prolonging the life of your mattress Solid pine frame Sprung edge 4 x large drawers All our mattresses and divans are anti-allergy, which means the provide effective protection against dust mite allergies, so you'll have a trouble free sleep H41cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Sony 40'' KDL-40WE5W HD Ready 1080 Eco-friendly LCD TV, at Mark's & Spencer
HD Ready 1080p: Displays images in Full HD 1080p, the maximum resolution defined for HDTV use, when connected to an HD compatible device Display: 40 inch LCD screen, 1920 x 1080 pixels Contrast Ratio: Dynamic Contrast 100000:1 Integrated Digital and Cable Tuner Provides access to all Freeview™ terrestrial digital channels and radio stations (subject to coverage in your area) and is cable TV ready (with supported providers only) Dimensions: W98.7 x H68.6 x D30.3cm (with table stand), W98.7 x H63.8 x D10.4 (without stabe stand) Weight: 21kg (with stand), 18kg (without stand) BRAVIA Engine 3: Experience incredibly clear and defined images with BRAVIA ENGINE 3 picture enhancement technology and Advanced Contrast Enhancer Connectors: 4 HDMI, 2 Scart, Composite video input, S-video input, Audio Input, Component video input, Mini-D sub, Digital audio output, Headphone jack Live Colour Creation: Delivers natural colour like no other 24p True Cinema: Shows films at 24 frames per second, just like a real cinema Motionflow: Boosts the refresh rate from standard 50Hz to 100Hz for super-smooth, precise viewing, which is ideal for sports Xross Media Bar: A new Sony interface that's easier to operate Picture Frame Mode: When you are not watching TV, display one of the 6 pre-installed masterpieces or show one of your own photos uploaded via the USB input Voice Zoom: Allows you to alter the volume of voices without changing the background volume BRAVIA Theatre Sync: Synchronises your Sony theatre system so it can be operated by the press of a single button Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton 5 Pocket Jeans, at Marks and Spencer
A great pair of jeans always looks stylish. These straight leg jeans in pure cotton feature multiple pockets. Fashionable, practical and easycare

Autograph Slinky Drape Dress, at Marks n Spencer
Part of Autograph's Luxe Tradition trend. Luxurious and contemporary with a sense of British heritage, this trend features a soft colour palette, modern prints and beautiful fabrics. A sophisticated look for the new season

Silver Finish Wood Photo Frame 10 x 15cm (4 x 6"), at Marks and Spencer
Rectangle shape Pine wood border Silver finish Aperture: 10 x 15cm (4 x 6") Dimensions: H19.1 x W24.2 x D2.7cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Limited Collection Etched Floral Bikini Knickers, at Marks and Spencer
Fabulous and modern, these comfortable bikinis are part of our Limited Collection lingerie. They're made from soft soft stretchy fabric, and the low rise style is perfect for wearing with hipsters. For a funky look, mix and match with coordinating lingerie from Limited. Casual, contemporary fashion

Older Boys' Chequer Board Bag, at Marks & Spencer
Smart and fashionable, this bag features side pockets and adjustable straps for comfort

PSP™ Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Game, at Marks and Spencers
Complete the Final Fantasy VII experience and reunite with renowned designer Tetsuya Nomura's most famous characters Engage in action-packed, real-time battles using the innovative Digital Mind Wave system Acquire unique accessories, items and abilities through 300 side missions designed to further enrich your experience Single player You must be 16 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 *Must be returned with the tamper seal intact for full refund, Platforms: Sony PSP, ESRB Rating: Mature

Filigree Design Sunglasses, at Marks and Spencer
These elegantly understated sunglasses will never go out of style. A fabulously versatile summer essential

Autograph Pure Cotton Cinchback Jeans, at Marks & Spencers
Cinchback design and stitch detailing gives these jeans a modern twist. A practical and fashionable style

M&S Financial Services offers a variety of financial and insurance products, but Car Insurance is something that almost everyone needs - at least if you own a car. Unfortunately there are so many companies offering Car Insurance today that, after a while, one policy may begin to look much like the next.

Thinking that most Car Insurance policies are much the same is usually a bad idea. At worst it can be a very expensive mistake - this is when you find out that your Car Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Car Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately M&S Financial Services Car Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Car Insurance to the competition then it stacks up quite nicely.

For example, here are just some of the options which come as standard with Marks & Spensers 5 Star Premier cover Car Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Car Insurance plans from companies such as Direct Line, Sainsburys, or Tesco's:

• Personal UK and European Breakdown Cover automatically included
• Comprehensive cover for trips abroad in the European Union – up to 90 days per trip
• Courtesy car during approved repairs automatically included
• Cover for Motor Legal Protection automatically included

So, it is clear that, besides being good value, M&S Car Insurance also provides much more extensive cover than some of the top competitors. Additionally, you don't even need to be behind the wheel to benefit from M&S Financial Services UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.