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 & Spenser 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 Spencers, through its Marks & Spencers Money 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 & Contents 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 Marks & Spencers Money. Not least of these is Marks & Spensers Standard Motor Insurance. With Marks & Spencers Money 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 Marks & Spencers Money, 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 Direct, you get more, and you pay less.

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

Thinking that most Motor 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 Motor Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Motor Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately Marks & Spencers Money Motor Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Motor 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 and Spencers 5 Star Premier cover Motor Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Motor Insurance plans from companies such as Direct Line, Sainsburys, or Tesco:

• 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 Motor 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 Marks & Spencers Money UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

Handcrafted Ralph the Hedgehog Valentine Card, at Marks and Spenser
Cover text: You're... Special lovely wonderful and mine... Inside message: Lucky me! This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: Unfolded: 178 x 127mm

Beer Keyring, at Marks and Spencers
You'll never lose your keys again with this eye-catching keyring and it's beer design

Collezione Pure Cotton Sateen Shirt, at Marks & Spensers
Italian style is renowned for its attention to detail. Each Collezione piece 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 shirt to give you a feeling of luxury like no other

Pure Silk Heritage Print Handkerchief, at Marks & Spencer
A luxuriously soft handkerchief in pure cotton

Pure Cotton Square Neck Ruffle Front Top, at Marks and Spenser
Smart and stylish, this short sleeve top is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a ruffle front

Casino Royale Blu-ray DVD, at Marks and Spencer
Rating Suitable for 12 years and over,

Ombre Style Sunglasses, at M&S
These elegantly understated sunglasses will never go out of style. A fabulously versatile summer essential

2 Soft Touch Firm Support Non Allergenic Dacron Pillows, at Mark's & Spencer
2 pack Soft to the touch and non allergenic, our Dacron filling is machine washable and lightweight Super soft dacron filling, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Weekend Cotton Rich Rugby Top, at Marks & Spencer
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

Collezione Pure Wool Single Breasted 3 Button Jacket, at Marks and 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 Turn Up Jeans, at Marks & Spencer
Turn up styling gives a modern twist to these fashionable jeans

Yellow Star Well Done Seed Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover Text: Well done Inside Message: Blank for your own message Approx Size: 174 mm x 126 mm

Per Una Pure Cotton 3/4 Sleeve Printed Cardigan, at Marks & Spensers
Cool and comfortable, this 3/4 sleeve cardigan is made from pure natural cotton and features a floral button fastening for a fashionable look

Spots & Butterflies Daughter Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover Text: To a special Daughter Inside Message: Happy Birthday Approx size: 175 x 125mm

Stain Defence™ & Stormwear™ Centre Crease Cargo Trousers, at Marks n Spencer
These modern cargo style trousers are treated with Stain Defence™ and Stormwear™ technologies, so they repel water and stains. An adjustable waist gives a perfectly comforatable fit for longer. They're non-iron for convenience - for best results, machine wash, tumble dry and hang straight away

Autograph Styled Pleated Shorts, at Marks and Spencers
Luxurious and elegant these flattering shorts feature a femine pleated skirt design. The modern low leg styling gives a shapely fit. Beautiful exclusive lingerie

Griffin iClear Touch Case, at Marks and Spencers
iClear's transparent and unobtrusive design protects your iPod with a tough polycarbonate shell, strong enough to take the daily abuse of active lifestyles

Cotton Rich Deep Lace Waist Shorts, at Marks & Spencer
These pretty lace shorts are shapely and modern. Added stretch gives a comfortable, figure-flattering fit

British Ham Platter, at M&S
Contains 40 slices Serves 8 Ready to eat 700g As featured on page 18 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

Ombre Style Sunglasses, at Marks&Spencer
These elegantly understated sunglasses will never go out of style. A fabulously versatile summer essential

Underwired Plain Body, at Marks and Spencer
Everyone's skin tone is different, so after some research into skin tones we've come up with Body Nudes, a range of flattering shades to suit everyone. Body Nudes is soft and comfy with no visible lumps or bumps, so you can be sure your clothes will look their best

2 Mosaic Seat Pads, at Mark & Spensers
Set of 2 Seat pads for Mosaic stackable chairs Suitable for indoor and all-weather outdoor use This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Painterly Floral Mum 70th Birthday Card, at Mark's & Spencer
Cover text: Happy 70th Birthday Mum, Life's a little happier, A little sweeter, too, A little more delightful, All because of you! 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: 230 x 114mm

Aladdin DVD, at Marks & Spensers
Rating Universal, suitable for all,

Cotton Blend Pyjama Bottoms, at Marks and Spenser
Fashionable and practical, these contrast drawstring pyjama bottoms are made from soft breathable cotton blend fabric for a comfortable night's sleep

1.7L Cordless Zebra Kettle, at Mark's & Spencer
1.7 litre capacity 1850 - 2200W Black and white finish Anti-slip base with cord storage Water window and contrasting on/off switch Concealed element for fast boiling and easy cleaning Removable washable limescale filter 2 year guarantee

Breakthrough Breast Cancer Re-Usable Organic Cotton Bag, at M&S
Show you care with this organic cotton re-usable bag supporting Breakthrough breast cancer charity. 10% of the price of this product is donated to Breakthrough

M&S 5 Input Scart Switcher, at Marks&Spencer
For connection of up to 5 audio/video devices to a single TV Recorder copy function 24 carat gold connection scart cable Auto and manual modes Easy to read display 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

Younger Girls' Tatty Teddy Star Dressing Gown, at Marks & Spencers
Fans of Tatty Teddy will love this fluffy dressing gown featuring a motif of the popular character

The Guest List, at Marks & Spencers
This is the definitive guide to the UK's best hotels and restaurants. Discover the stylish interiors, fabulous food and unparalleled service that set these hotels and restaurants apart from the crowd. A hotel that achieves the rare combination of elegant simplicity, character, good service and remarkable food comes to be regarded by its guests as a rare discovery

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