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

Besides Marks & Spenser Motor Insurance, M&S Finance Credit Cards and other financial products, M&S Finance Property Insurance deserves particular mention, with it being particularly good value for money, and providing extra insurance cover that many UK insurance companies either don't provide at all, or would charge extra for.

With M&S Finance Premier Contents policy, for example, student's belongings are not only covered at home, but also at college or university. Additionally, dependent relatives are also covered if their belongings happen to be in a nursing home. Even better still, your Marks and Spencers purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both M&S Finance Premier Property Insurance and Standard Property Insurance policies, you can choose to include Contents Away From Home. This option would then provide valuable cover all of your personal belongings on a worldwide basis.

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

Blue Bunny Flat Sheet, at Marks&Spencer
Embroidered 'baby bunny' slogon Star detail Multiple stripe design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Abstract Butterfly Print Flip Flop, at Marks and Spencer
Butterfly print Toe thong design Flat sole

Pure Cotton Animal Print Sarong, at Mark & Spensers
Feminine and pretty, this fashionable sarong features a striking animal print. The ultimate in poolside glamour

Photo Roses Wife Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencers
Cover text: To my beautiful wife Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 215 x 150 mm

PlayStation®2 UEFA EURO 08 Game, at Marks&Spencer
Win UEFA EURO 2008 - Compete as one of 52 teams from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland Captain Your Country - Play as yourself on the same team with up to three friends, all playing individual positions on the pitch. Compete collaboratively to win games but compete against each other for the captaincy. Develop your player through eight status levels to earn the captaincy of your country and the right to lead your team Create Yourself - Play alongside your heroes by customizing yourself in game. Place your name on your jersey, then earn experience points to enhance your skills and reputation Battle of the Nations - Represent your country online against your rivals around the world to win global supremacy. Earn individual and team points. Think your nation is the best? Now you can prove it! EURO Online Knockout Draw- Battle gamers from other nations online in 16-team single elimination tournaments to gain points for your nation Enhanced Penalty Kicks - Experience the challenge of a penalty shoot-out as if you were on the pitch. Master your nerves to score the goal that puts your team in the UEFA EURO 2008 final Interactive Celebrations - Score a goal and then control your player's movements and actions to celebrate the way you want to Dynamic Rain and Mud - Winter weather from across Europe is authentically re-created to simulate real-world playing conditions. Experience driving rain that creates sloppy, muddy pitches which dramatically impacts passing and player performance Authentic Stadiums - Compete in all 8 official stadiums of UEFA EURO 2008 Team Managers - Watch reactions from team managers on the sideline as they shout encouragement or become disappointed in your team's performance, ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults

Short Sleeve Henley Neck Pintuck Front Top, at Marks & Spencers
Smart and stylish, this scoop neck top features a pintuck front

Linen Blend Buckle Detail Bootleg Trousers, at MarksandSpencer
Greater choice of leg lengths now available Say goodbye to stuffy formal dressing. Summer suits are light and easy, with relaxed styling to match your mood

Shades of Pink, at Marks and Spencers
5 Malibu Roses 5 Anastasia White Blooms 5 Dark Pink Spray Roses 5 Ruscus 75cl bottle of Cava Brut Licensing Act 2003: it is an offence for any person under 18 years to buy or attempt to buy alcoholic liquor Available for delivery from 1st April to 30th September 2009 Price includes delivery Looking to place a corporate bulk order? Please call 0845 6020602 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more Vase not included

50/50 Plain Dye Pillowcase, at Marks and Spenser
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Big & Tall Linen Blend Single Breasted 2 Button Jacket, at Marks & Spenser
Specially proportioned for big and tall men, this linen blend jacket is designed to give a flattering, comfortable fit

125 Years One Shoulder Ring Detail Swimsuit, at Marks & Spencers
Part of the Commemorative Collection. These exclusive garments have been inspired by some of the beautiful pieces in our archive and reference the iconic decades of the 20th century. Retro styling has been given a contemporary twist for the modern day

Artificial Floral Gerbera in Smoked Glass Vase, at Marks & Spencers
Artificial gerbera Oval shaped vase Pebble detail at base Height: 66cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Watergun, at M+S
Ideal for the beach or garden, the water gun set is great for soaking your friends! Never lose a water fight, simply fill with water, aim & shoot!

Single Strap Pumps, at Mark & Spensers
Round toe Single strap with buckle fastening Flat sole

Humming Bird Happy Birthday Gift Card, at M+S
Credit card-sized Gift Card with presentation greetings card Can be redeemed in any of our UK stores and online Gift Cards can be topped up in stores to the maximum value of 500 Gift Cards are valid for 24 months after last use Frequently asked questions Click here to view frequently asked questions about our Gift Cards Click here for full Gift Card terms and conditions This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Autograph Weekend Long Sleeve Knitted Dress with Merino Wool, at Marks and Spencer
Chic and modern, this long sleeve knitted dress is beautifully designed and features a matching scarf. An exclusive, luxurious look from Autograph

Portfolio Pure Linen Sleeveless Shift Dress, at Marks and Spencers
This fresh fashionable dress in cool pure linen is beautifully styled and detailed with contrast trim and waistline

Per Una Pure Cotton Tropic Leaf Print Dress, at Marks and Spenser
A colourful tropic leaf print dress in pure soft cotton featuring a pleated neck detail

Maternity Straight Leg Trousers, at Marks & Spensers
Fashionable and modern, these straight leg trousers are designed to flatter you and your bump. The stretch waist gives a neat, comfortable fit with room for growth. Enjoy your pregnancy in style!

Machine Washable Single Pleat Trousers, at MarksandSpencer
Put an end to tiresome trips to the dry cleaners. Our range of machine washable and tumble dry suits combine the best in convenience and contemporary style

Signature Natural Cotton Scented Candle, at Mark's & Spencer
Glass holder Natural cotton fragrance Burns up to 40 hours, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Sony VAIO VGN-NS20E Laptop, at Marks and Spencer
Processor: Intel Pentium Processor T3400 with Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Processor speed: 2.16 (GHz) RAM: DDR2 SDRAM (1x2GB, 1x1GB) Screen: (Diagonal Size) 15.4" X-black LCD, resolution 1280 x 800, aspect ratio - 16:10 Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Hard Drive: 250GB Serial ATA - 5400 rpm Graphics card: Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M Memory stick slot: Memory Stick™ Std / Duo, Memory Stick™ PRO Std / Duo, high speed data transfer, SD card Digital camera: Built-in 'Motion Eye' Digital Camera, Frames per Second 30, Image Sensor 1.3 mega pixels, Motion Pictures max. Resolution 1280x1024 (SXGA) Optical Drive: Built-in DVD+-RW/+-R DL/RAM optical drive Interfaces: 4 Pin i.LINK™ (IEEE1394), 400 Mbps x1, DC in x1, Memory Stick™ Slot x 1, Microphone Jack (Stereo) x 1, RJ-11 Direct Port (Modem) x 1, RJ-45 Direct Port (Network) x 1, USB Port 2.0 x 4, VGA Connector for Monitor x 1, Express Card Slot x 1, SD Card Slot x 1 Connectivity: Built-in Modem V.92/V.90, Integrated Wireless LAN, Ethernet network 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T Battery: Lithium-Ion battery (VGP-BPS13B) - Battery Life 225 minutes, Actual battery life will vary depending on your specific hardware and software configurations. Benchmark: MobileMark 2007 Video & TV software: Me&My VAIO, VAIO Content Importer / Exporter, WinDVD 8 for VAIO, VAIO Movie Story Audio software: VAIO Music Box, Windows Media Player 11 Photo software: Picture Motion Browser, VAIO Movie Story CD-DVD burning software: Easy Media Creator 9, Click to Disc/Editor Office application software: Adobe Reader 8.1, Microsoft Office Ready 2007 (60 days Try & Buy) Security & other software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (with 60 days free virus update), VAIO Recovery Utility - HDD recovery (hidden partition), Google software package Accessories included: AC Adaptor, Battery, Power Cord Dimensions: D 270 x H (min - max) 31.4 - 38.0 x W 360mm Weight: Weight with Supplied Battery and Supplied Drive (kg) 2.9 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

Double Waisted Pinstripe Trousers, at Marks & Spenser
These tailored bootlegs are designed to skim the hips and thighs and gently flare to give a flattering long-legged look. Practical as well as stylish, they're machine washable for added convenience. A smart choice for work or formal occasions

Pure Cotton 3/4 Sleeve Ruffle Check Blouse, at Marks & Spencers
Smart and stylish, this ruffle blouse is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a check design

5 Cool & Fresh Cotton Rich Stripe Waist Briefs, at Marks & Spenser
Made from soft breathable stretch cotton, these comfy briefs are ideal for everyday wear

Pure Cotton Embroidered Satin Rose Pillowcase, at Mark's & Spencer
Embroidered 3 dimensional rose design L43 x W43cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Floral Print Bikini Briefs, at Marks & Spencer
A beautiful pair of low rise bikini briefs featuring a floral print and side tie feature

Airflex™ Comfort Side Stripe Mudguard Trainers, at Marks & Spenser
Round toe Stitch detail Lace-up Fresh Feet antibacterial lining for odour free feet Lining absorbs moisture so feet stay dry Unique Airflex™ airflow system for unbeatable comfort Lightweight, flexible and durable Heel cushion and arch

Floral Bouquet Gift Card, at Marks and Spencer
Can be redeemed in any of our UK stores and online Credit card-sized Gift Card with presentation greetings card Gift Cards can be topped up in stores to the maximum value of 500 Gift Cards are valid for 24 months after last use Frequently asked questions Click here to view frequently asked questions about our Gift Cards Click here for full Gift Card terms and conditions This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

2 Piece Pure Cotton Embroidered Dress & Top, at Marks n Spencer
A cute look in pure soft cotton, this coordinated outfit combines a stripe top with pinafore dress. The embroidered detail adds a pretty finishing touch

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

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Motor 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 Motor Insurance from M+S Money, you get more, and you pay less.