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 and Spencer, through its M+S 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 Property 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 Money UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Marks & Spencer online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the M+S Money 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 and Spencer, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

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

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

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Car Insurance policies on offer from M & S, 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.

Autograph Pure Silk Pleated Cushion, at Marks & Spenser
Rectangular shape Pleat detail Lined, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

The Floral Collection Rose Talcum Powder, at Marks and Spencers
Rose fragrance 200g

Long Sleeve Zip Fastening Leather Jacket, at Marks and Spencers
Leather jackets always look modern and this long sleeve zip-up jacket is a luxurious and fashionable style

Classic Duckling Thank You Cards - Pack of Ten, at Marks n Spencer
Cover text: thank you Inside Message: Blank for your own message Pack contains: 10 cards, 1 design Approx size: 120 x 120mm

Footglove™ Leather Interweave Peep Toe Shoes, at Marks and Spencer
Peep toe Interweave strap design Contrast stitch Buckle fastening Mid heel Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight

Spot Swirl Padded Balcony Bra, at Marks and Spencer
Soft and comfortable, this padded balcony bra is structured for secure support and an enhanced natural shape. Ideal for everyday wear

Pure Cotton Textured Bathmats, at Marks and Spenser
Textured edging Latex gripped backing Large bathmat: L80 x W50cm Pedestal mat: L55 x W50cm Sizes sold separately. Customers should select which mat size they wish to purchase from the drop down menu, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Hastings Double Wardrobe & 2 Bedside Chests Set, at Marks and Spencers
Wardrobe: H188 x W96 x D54cm Bedside chest: H58 x W47 x D43cm Wardrobe has 1 hanging rail and 1 shelf Bedside chest has 2 drawers Crafted predominantly from solid pine and fibreboard 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 manufacturer's instructions, and be aware that polishes can add sheen. This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Ghost Rider Blu-ray DVD, at Marks & Spenser
Rating Suitable for 15 years and over,

Autograph Illusions Dark Circle Concealer, at Marks and Spencers
Formulated with Haloxyl™ to help reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness This concealer also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines Hypo-allergenic Available in 3 shades

Non-Iron Long Sleeve Herringbone Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
Smart and innovative, this easycare shirt has a special finish on the fabric and is cleverly constructed to make it non-iron. A great time saver, ideal for work wear

50/50 Tie Dye Print Bedset, at Marks & Spencer
Tie dye print design Single set includes duvet cover and 1 pillowcase Double set includes duvet cover (4ft 6in) and 2 pillowcases King size includes duvet cover (5ft) and 2 pillowcases, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pocket Sprung Nursery Mattress, at Marks & Spencer
L140 x W70 x D15cm Spring count: 264 Pocket sprung for excellent support Cot bed not included Hygienic, moisture-resistant covering Suitable for the feet-to-foot sleeping position recommended by health professionals Fully conformed to current safety standards We recommend you ensure it is the correct size for the cot and that any gaps at the sides and ends are less than 3cm Delivered boxed to your door. No assembly required but you will need to unpack and position the item yourself This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

36 Indian Selection with a Tomato & Chilli Dip, at Marks and Spencers
Contains 36 pieces Serves 8 Ready to cook Suitable for freezing Suitable for vegetarians 880g As featured on page 15 in the food to order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 5 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Oak & Metal Photo Frame 13 x 18cm (5 x 7"), at Marks & Spencer
Wide border Rectangle shape Aperture: 12 x 18cm (5 x 7''), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Canon PowerShot SX200 Digital Camera, at Marks & Spencer
Pixels: 12.1 megapixels Zoom: 12x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom Screen: 3.0'' LCD display ISO: AUTO, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 Dimensions: W103.0 x H60.5 x D37.6 mm Weight: 220g Motion Detection Technology: Eliminate blur by compensating for subject motion and camera-shake PictBridge Enabled: Enables you to print images using a USB cable to connect the PowerShot A470 to a printer without a PCFace Detection Technology: Ensures superb people shots by automatically setting optimum focus, exposure, flash and white balance Red-Eye Correction: Easily removes red-eye in-camera Processor: DIGIC 4 processor drives exceptional processing speeds, responsive operation, superb image quality and colour reproduction. Advanced Noise Reduction ensures richly detailed, clean images, even at high ISO speeds Shooting Modes & Special Scenes: 14 shooting modes include Special Scenes like Sunset, Portrait and Kids & Pets, which make it easy to get great results in common shooting situations. My Colors in-camera photo effects such as Black & White can be applied during shooting HD movies and HDMI output: Supplement great still shots with HD movies (720p, 30fps) and share them on any HDTV via a built-in HDMI connection System requirements: Windows XP SP2-3 / Vista (including SP1), Mac OS X v10.4 - 10.5 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

Older Boys' Pure Cotton Denim Jacket, at Marks & Spensers
Relaxed and modern, this denim jacket makes a comfortable and practical choice. It's machine washable for added convenience

Per Una Pure Cotton Corduroy Coat, at M & S
A smart single breasted coat in pure soft cotton featuring notch lapel

Maternity Limited Collection Straight Leg Jersy Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
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!

°Climate Control Medium Support Pillow, at Marks & Spensers
Keeps you in a comfort zone all night long Absorbs body heat, releasing when you need it Made using outlast technology, originally developed for NASA, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Sterling Silver Organic Double Oval Necklace, at Marks & Spencer
Clasp fastening Double oval design Length: 41cm

Linen Blend Cargo Trousers with Belt, at Marks and Spencer
Relaxed and comfortable, these linen blend cargos are a practical easycare choice

Per Una Printed Stripe Bikini Briefs, at Marks n Spencer
Pretty and feminine, these bikini briefs are fashionably detailed with a stripe design. A sleek, shapely look

Bright Prints Range Slim Notebook & Pencil, at Mark's & Spencer
Contains: 1 notebook and 1 pencil Check design Approx size: 215 x 87mm

'Relax' Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencers
Cover text: Relax on your birthday... Inside message: Have a lovely day! This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 174 x 126mm

Ceriso Snake Print Padded Balcony Bra with Silk, at Marks & Spencer
Unleash your wild side! This glamorous bra is made from silk mix fabric with a snake print, detailed with lace. The padded balcony style gives maximum uplift and a flattering fuller shape. Designed for women who want the latest look

2 Non-Padded Underwired Bras, at Marks & Spensers
Soft and comfortable, this pack of 2 non-padded bras are great value. They're designed to give gentle support and a flattering fit

Older Boys' Wide Stitch Belt, at Marks & Spencers
Fashionable and practical, this leather rivet detail belt adds a stylish finishing touch

Florentyna Foam Bath, at Marks & Spencer
Foam bath with moisturisers 250ml

Pure Cotton Scoop Neck Jersey T-Shirt, at Marks & Spenser
This short sleeved t-shirt will make a useful addition to your wardrobe. It features a smart scoop neck for a stylish casual look

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. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Property Insurance and Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks and Spencer than you might imagine.

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