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 & Spencers 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 & Spensers, through its M&S Money Direct website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Motor 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.

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

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Motor Insurance policies on offer from Marks & 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 Financial Services, you get more, and you pay less.

Besides Marks and Spencer Motor Insurance, M&S Money Direct Credit Cards and other financial products, M&S Money Direct Buildings 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 Money Direct 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 & Spencer purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both M&S Money Direct Premier Buildings Insurance and Standard Buildings 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.

Lace Embroidered Push Up Multiway Bra, at Marks & Spencer
This versatile bra can be worn 5 ways: conventionally, halterneck, cross back, strapless and one shoulder. Designed for a comfortable flattering fit, secure support and great flexibility

Pure Cotton Ditsy Print Mock Layer Top, at Marks & Spencers
Chic and modern, this mock layer top is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a ditsy print

Sonoma Dark 5-Drawer Chest, at Marks & Spencer
H88 x W90 x D50cm 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 Side panels and back panels made from White Oak veneer Top panels made from White Oak veneer with a solid Oak edging for strength Handles made from solid wood Drawer boxes and fronts made from solid hardwood. Drawer bottoms made from White Oak veneer 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. Find out more SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy this chest as part of a set. Click here to view the Sonoma Dark Collection Set. , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Bon Bon Table Lamp, at Marks and Spencer
Chrome plated steel Clear glass ball design Fabric shade H38 x Diam 18cm Suitable Light Bulb: 60W E14 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Nail Rescue Treatment, at M & S
Packed full of natural extracts, vitamins and minerals to: Nourish Hydrate Smooth Strengthen Regenerate

Thermal Lace Trim Ribbed Camisole with Silk, at Marks & Spenser
Indulge in soft, warm comfort with this thermal easy to wear knitted camisole. Perfect for adding a snug extra layer to your outfits during the winter months

Enamel Garlic Pot, at Marks & Spencers
Detachable lid with handle 'Garlic' motif Dimensions: H13 x Diam 10cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Flock Leaf Pencil Pleat Curtains, at Marks and Spencers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Russell Watson - People Get Ready CD, at Marks & Spencers
Audio CD, Marks & Spencer

Philips HP6335 Double Contour Ladyshave, at Marks and Spencer
Fast and efficient shaving: Twin-head for light shave of even the toughest hairs Adjusts to every body curve: Floating shaving head follows your body curves Smooth shave with aloe vera Washable shaving head Rechargeable Accessories: cleaning brush, charging stand and bikini trim attachments

Collezione Pure Merino Wool Slipover, at Marks and Spenser
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

Cotton Rich Stitch Detail Bootleg Jeans, at Marks and Spencer
Flattering and fabulous, bootcuts make legs look longer and are kind to curves. This pair sits on the waist and is designed to give a shapely feminine silhouette. Added stretch gives the perfect fit

Autograph Weekend Short Sleeve Front Pleat Abstract Print Top, at Marks and Spencers
Part of Autograph Weekend's Sloane trend. Casual yet sophisticated, this is weekend dressing at its most stylish. Featuring a cool colour palette of crisp navy, neutrals and red, this is an effortlessly chic look for the new season

Autograph Pure Cotton Wide Stripe Shirt, at M&S
This luxurious shirt is part of our exclusive Autograph collection. Its fine quality and careful attention to detail make it a superior and stylish modern classic

Fuji FinePix F200EXR Digital Camera, at Marks and Spenser
Pixels: Super CCD EXR 12 Megapixel switchable sensor Zoom: 5x optical zoom, 4.4x digital zoom Screen: 3" TFT color LCD monitor ISO: Auto / Auto(3200) / Auto(1600) / Auto(800) / Auto(400) / Equivalent to ISO 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 (Standard Output Sensitivity) * Number of recorded pixels: ISO6400: "M" or "S", ISO12800: "S"only Dimensions: W97.7 x H58.9 x D23.4mm / W3.8 x H2.3 x D0.9" (excluding accessories and attachments) Weight: Approx. 175g (excluding accessories, batteries and memory card) Face Detection: Face Detection technology with automatic red-eye removal Movie recording: AVI (Motion JPEG ) with sound Self-timer: Approx. 10 sec./2 sec. delay Power source: Rechargeable NP-50 Li-ion battery (included) / CP-50 with AC power adapter AC-5VX (sold separately)

Long Sleeve Floral Print Top, at Marks and Spencers
Smart and stylish, this long sleeve top is made from comfortable cotton blend and features a floral print

Modal Blend Secret Support™ DD-G T-Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
Flattering and feminine, this short sleeve t-shirt is made with Secret Support™ which gives gentle support and a flattering, defined shape. A soft, comfortable style

Pavilion Side Plate, at Marks and Spencers
Round shape Platinum detail, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

5 Plain High Leg Knickers, at Marks and Spencer
Offering great value and great comfort, these fantastic everyday knickers feature a flattering high leg cut set against an understated, easy to care for design

Limited Collection Etched Floral Padded Bra, at Marks & Spencer
Fun and fabulous, this balcony bra is part of our Limited Collection lingerie. For a funky look, mix and match with coordinating lingerie from Limited. Casual, contemporary fashion

Zebra Mannequin Jewellery Holder, at M&S
Mannequin design Multiple hooks H18"

Blue Harbour Pure Cotton Bold Stripe Shirt, at Mark & Spencers
Relaxed and stylish, this stripe shirt is made from pure cotton so it feels soft and comfortable to wear

Footglove™ Leather Loafers, at MarksandSpencer
Round toe Stitch detail Flat sole Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight

5 Multi Star Print Shorts, at Marks & Spencer
A great value pack, ideal for everyday wear. This pack may contain a mixture of designs and colours

Blue Harbour Plain Linen Shorts, at Marks & Spenser
Think smart on those warmer days and nights with the design of these great value shorts. Pair with sandals and a T-shirt or team with a short sleeve shirt and boat shoes for a dressier casual look

Blue Harbour Pure Lambswool V-Neck Stripe Jumper, at Marks and Spencer
An extremely comfortable jumper. It's made from extrafine lambswool which is spun for the softest feel. Conveniently, it can be machine washed and tumble dried and it resists bobbling

Lullaby Bear with Blanket Comforter, at Mark's & Spencer
Teddy bear with detatchable comforter blanket Contrast soles Double lined for safety Bear: H23 x W13 x L22cm Blanket: 25 x 25cm Suitable for ages 0+ This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

North Coast Pure Cotton Washed Denim Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
This pure cotton shirt has been dyed using a special process to give an authentic washed down look which will fade fashionably with time and wear

M&S 15'' LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player - Black, at Marks & Spencers
Display: 15 inch flat screen, 1280 x 800 pixels Contrast Ratio: 400:1 Integrated Digital Tuner: Gives you access to all Freeview™ terrestrial digital TV channels and all digital radio stations (subject to coverage in your area) Dimensions: H34.5 x W38 x D17.5cm Sound: Nicam stereo Connectors: 1 x HDMI input, 1 x Scart socket DVD Player: Built-in Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 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 Please Note: Freeview™ is not yet available to the whole of the UK. We advise that you check that your postcode area can receive the Freeview signal before ordering this product Please Note: To receive the full range of Freeview™ channels, customers should use an outdoor wide band aerial. Suitable portable TV aerials can be used to receive Freeview but the quality of the reception is dependent on the quality of the product and the signal area. Due to these factors you may not receive all Freeview channels when using an indoor aerial Use wall mount T042100 to perfectly mount this TV This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Panasonic 42'' TX-P42G15 Full HD Plasma TV with freesat HD, at Marks and Spencers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

When you're shopping at Marks and Spencers 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 M&S Money Direct. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Buildings Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks and Spenser than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from M&S Money Direct. 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 M&S Money Direct, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Money Direct 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."