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 & Spencer are so useful. M&S Money Direct financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks and Spencers 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, Property Insurance policies. Usually, UK Property 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 M&S Money Direct Property 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 M&S Money Direct Property Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

M&S Money Direct Insurance: There are, quite literally, hundreds of companies in the UK from whom you can purchase insurance. Whether you're looking for the best deal on Car Insurance, buildings and contents insurance, or even wedding insurance, it doesn't take long to find a company that will sell you a policy.

However, not all insurance companies, and certainly not all insurance policies, are the same. What may be standard on one insurance policy may be an optional extra on another, for instance; Car Insurance and Property Insurance are especially like this.

For example, most home and contents insurance policies either ask you to provide the total cost of rebuilding your home plus the total value of your home contents, or they will set an upper limit. This may seem fine at the time, but, in the event of a claim on your Property Insurance policy, the values act as maximum limits, and so you may, in effect, be under-insured and not receive the full value of your insurance claim.

Fortunately, M&S Money Direct Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Money Direct. Not least of these is Marks and Spencer Standard Car Insurance. With M&S Money Direct 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 M&S Money Direct, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Car Insurance policies on offer from Marks n 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.

RealCool Cotton™ Active Performance T-Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Ideal for active wear, this RealCool Cotton™ t-shirt is made from high-performance breathable stretch fabric. It's designed in the latest style for a great fit and ease of movement

3 Pairs of Assorted Stripe Socks, at M&S
Brighten up his underwear drawer with these fashionable stripe socks

Text Nephew Birthday Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: Happy birthday nephew Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 215 x 150mm

7 Pairs Of Freshfeet New Dot Socks with Silver Technology, at Marks & Spencer
Our odour control Freshfeet socks are now better than ever with a new Sanitised Silver finish. Known for its natural antibacterial properties, silver helps reduce the presence of bacteria that causes smelly odours, so your feet stay fresh with every step and it keeps working for the lifetime of the socks

Blue Harbour Suede Trim Cardigan with Wool, at Marks and Spencer
Supersoft and comfortable, this suede trim cardigan has been knitted from yarn that resists bobbling. It can be machine washed and tumble dried.

Pure Linen Flat Cap, at Marks & Spencer
A traditional British classic, this is a versatile style that looks great worn smart or casual

LEGO® 50th Birthday Card, at MarksandSpencer
Cover text: The big 50 Dont worry youll get OVER it! Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx. size: 215 x 150mm

Barton Large 2 Seater Sofa, at Mark & Spensers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Short Sleeve Embellished Jersey Top, at Marks & Spencers
A fashionable short sleeve jersey top embellished with pleated fabric and buttons

Autograph Leather Centre Seam Slip-On Shoes, at Marks and Spencer
Square toe Center seam feature Slip-on Low block heel Comes in sizes 6-12, including half sizes

Pacific 2 Seater Sofa, at Marks&Spencer
H90 x W136 x D90cm Seat H50cm, arm H68cm, top back rail H67cm Seat cushions made from Quallofil Extralife filling. Click here for more information on Quallofil Extralife Other cushions made from polyester fibre All cushions are reversible Cushion covers can be removed Pine feet with a light finish This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Rich Plain Hooded Top, at M&S
This sporty hooded top is made from comfortable cotton rich fabric with stretch, giving you that extra bit of freedom to move. The ideal choice for workouts or relaxing afternoons

M&S 1.5m High Performance Flat Gold Scart Cable, at Marks & Spencers
1.5 metre flat cable 24 carat gold connections Titanium finished plugs Multiple shielding for minimum interference 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

Stain Defence™ Non-Iron Trousers With Stormwear™, at Mark's & Spencer
These trousers are treated with Stain Defence™ and Stormwear™ technologies, so they repel water and stains. They're non-iron for convenience - for best results, machine wash, tumble dry and hang straight away

Autograph High Heel Suede Detail Shoes, at Marks and Spenser
Open toe Suede detail Elasticated ankle strap High heel Heel height: 80mm Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Cats Slim Diary, at M&S
Week to view 3D effect Dimensions: 165 x 80mm

Cotton Rich Zip Funnel Neck Jumper, at Marks & Spenser
A practical, casual jumper in a cotton rich fabric featuring a zip fastening. A great value easycare style

Platinum Plated Diamanté Detail Baguette Ring, at Marks and Spencer
Add instant sparkling style with this gorgeous platinum plated ring, set with dazzling diamant.

Autograph Satin Stitch Duvet Cover, at Mark & Spensers
500 thread count Woven as sateen Satin stitch 100% Supima cotton - the world's finest cotton Comes in single, double, kingsize and super-kingsize, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Fenton Large 2-Seater Sofa, at Marks & Spenser
H90 x W218 x D103cm Seat: H51cm (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 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 dark finish Includes 2 free matching bolsters 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 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

Athenian Column Floor Lamp, at Marks & Spencers
Antique brass finish Column detail stem Square base Parchment style shade H134 x Diam 40cm Bulb: 60W BC GLS This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Sony PSP™ 3000 Console & Buzz Brain Bender Bundle, at Marks and Spenser
Bundle includes PSP 3000 console and Buzz Brain Bender Game Buzz Brain Bender: Buzz! swaps his trademark game show suit for a lab coat and clipboard. Welcome to Buzz!: Brain Bender - a lighter, entertaining and humorous new take on the puzzle genre! Display: 4.3'' display (16:9) full-transparent type, TFT drive, 480 x 272 pixel, Approximately 16,770,000 colors displayed Improved screen: Capable of displaying movies and photos in more natural and vibrant colors CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1-333MHz) Built-in microphone: Enables voice chat as soon as you are in a WiFi zone. Enjoy games that use a microphone, Skype and other communication tools TV play: Expanded AV interlaced output gives better refresh rates and sharper images on the TV Sound: Built-in stereo speakers Main memory: 64MB Video formats supported: MPEG-4, AVI Audio formats supported: MP3, MP4, WAVE, WMA, ATRAC3™, ATRAC3plus™ Photo formats supported: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG Connectors: USB connector, Memory Stick Duo™ slot, Video out/headset connector, DC in/out Input/output: Wi-Fi, High Speed USB, Memory Stick PRO Duo™, Analog Video Out, Microphone Power source: Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery pack, AC adaptor, USB power supply Dimensions: L17 x D1.8 x W7.1cm Weight: 189g (including battery pack)

Château Haut-Carmaillet 2004 - Case of 6, at Marks & Spencers
Style: Full bodied Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.8 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.6 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Per Una Wide Leg Centre Crease Trousers, at Marks & Spencers
A smart pair of wide leg trousers in stretch cotton featuring a centre crease

Canoe Boat Shoes, at Marks & Spenser
Round toe Stitch detail Strap style feature Lined

Blue Energy Eau de Toilette, at Mark & Spencers
100ml Eau de Toilette Natural spray This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Château Barde Haut 2002 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spenser
Style: Full Bodied Grape variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.1 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.7 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

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

Organic Cotton Twiggy Eco Shopper, at Marks and Spencers
Shop greener by using this organic cotton shopper instead of plastic carriers. The portrait of model Twiggy was commissioned from eminent fashion illustrator David Downton, making this bag a must-have stylish accessory

Memory Foam Mattress Enhancer, at Marks and Spencer
Comes in protective bag Moulds to your body for a fully supported night's sleep Equalised pressure on sensitive areas Sculpted support zones giving personalised comfort, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Shopping for financial products at M&S Money Direct UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the M&S online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the M&S Money Direct website:

• M&S Insurance: M&S Car Insurance, M&S Property 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 M&S Money Direct in the event of a query, or an insurance claim, is as easy as picking up the phone, or visiting the M&S Money Direct website.