Marks & Spensers may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Buildings Insurance or Car Insurance, but Marks and Spencer do indeed offer a comprehensive selection of financial products, all of which are competitively priced, and all of which you can purchase directly from the M&S Money Direct website. With a simple, no-hassle service, you can compare features between a number of Marks & Spencer Money products and competitor's products, and sign up in just a few minutes.

Whether you're looking for savings products or M&S Money Direct loans, credit cards or Buildings Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, M&S Money Direct can save you both time and money, with comprehensive information available at a click.

Free insurance quotes are available online for all of M&S Money Direct insurance products (Buildings Insurance, Car Insurance, Travel Insurance, Wedding Insurance and Pet Insurance), or you may call if you wish to on the telephone number provided. Suffice to say that there is also plenty of information which you can download for each of the Marks and Spencers insurance products in document format too.

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 & Spencers, 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 Car 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.

Besides M+S Car 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 Mark & Spensers 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.

Classic Square Watch, at Mark & Spencers
Square face Analogue Roman numerals Cushioned strap Buckle fastening

Silver Bells Wedding Card, at Marks and Spencers
Cover text: On your Special Day Inside message: Wishing you happiness, laughter and love This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 175 x 126mm

Autograph Cotton Corduroy Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
Part of Kids' Autograph, a luxurious collection of beautifully designed clothing in high quality fabrics with superior finishing details. Kids' Autograph gives a stylish well-dressed look

Cotton Rich Travel Socks, at Marks & Spenser
Life can take its toll on your feet. Our travel socks help ease the pressure whether you're taking a short trip or going long haul - with their special combination of support and comfort, a pair of these socks look after your feet beautifully. Support factor 12 specially designed with graduated compression to aid circulation

Enamel Diamanté Photo Frame 25 x 20cm (8 x 10"), at Marks & Spensers
Diamant flower detail Metallic trim Aperature 20 x 25cm (8 x 10 in), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Fresh Rose Pot Pourri Box, at Marks & Spencers
Fresh rose scented Presented in a box, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

3 Pairs of Opaque Knee Highs, at Mark & Spensers
A great value essential, these forty denier opaque knee-highs will give a smooth look. Perfect with trousers or long skirts

Mother of Pearl Photo Frame 10 x 15cm (4 x 6''), at Marks & Spencers
Brushed metal texture Rectangle shape Aperture: 10 x 15cm (4 x 6''), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Extending Floor Lamp & Shade, at Marks & Spencer
Antique brass finish steel Fabric shade 40 x 162cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Wool Ankara Rug, at M & S
Made from New Zealand wool Traditional pattern Fringed design Small: L140 x W80cm Medium: L170x W120cm Large: L230 x W160cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Big & Tall Collezione Luxury Wool Rich Flat Front Trousers, at Marks and Spencers
Smart and stylish, these flat front trousers are made from fine quality wool with cashmere for exceptional softness. A practical, hardwearing and fashionable choice. Perfectly proportioned for big and tall men

Château D'Argadens 2007 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spencer
Style: Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc 65%, Semillon 35% Country of Origin: France Closure: Bottle: 6 x 75cl Alcohol by Volume: 12.5% Alcohol units per bottle: 9.4 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

Oxford Toe Cap Brogue Shoes, at Marks&Spencer
Round toe Punch apron detail Toe cap design Lace up Block heel

Pure Cotton Turn Up Jeans with Belt, at Marks & Spenser
Turn up feature gives a modern twist to these fashionable jeans

Older Boys' Batmobile Slippers, at M+S
Round toe Grip sole Batmobile motif Slip on ™ & DC Comics

Pure Wool Fine Stripe Rug, at MarksandSpencer
Rectangle shape Stripe design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cross Strap High Heel Shoes, at Marks & Spencers
Heel height: 85mm Almond toe Elasticated cross strap Slip on High heel Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Knotted Slouch Bag, at Mark's & Spencer
A casual vintage style pleated bag. Add a fabulously fashionable finish to your look!

Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG 2005 - Case of 6, at Marks & Spencer
Style: Full bodied Grape variety: Mixed Red Country of origin: Italy Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 14% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.5 Alcohol units per 125ml:1.8 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Stir-Fry Pan, at Marks and Spencer
Non-stick interior Even heat distribution Dishwasher safe Diam: 28cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Little Miss Top, at Marks and Spenser
Fans of Little Miss will love this pure cotton top featuring the popular character. A practical, easycare style

Per Una Knitted V-Neck Top & Stripe Scarf, at Marks & Spensers
A fashionable knitted v-neck top featuring a lace trim neckline. Comes with scarf shown in the photograph

3 Pairs of 40 Denier Opaque Ankle Highs, at M & S
Durable and comfortable, these plain ankle highs are ideal for every day wear

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Owl Motif Top, at Mark's & Spencer
Cute and practical, this long sleeve top is outstanding value. The pure soft cotton will keep him happy and comfy

Playmobil Road Sweeper Toy, at Marks & Spencer
Suitable for ages 4+ Includes functional brushes The catch tank can be opened This product conforms to the EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

TomTom XL LIVE IQ Routes™ Edition Europe Satellite Navigation System, at Marks and Spencer
Maps: Full door to door maps of the Western and Central Europe (42 countries) Display: XL 4.3" widescreen Safety Camera Database: Comes with fixed safety camera alerts pre-installed, to help you to drive more safely and responsibly Easyport™ Mount: EasyPort™ mount folds neatly onto the back of your device, making the whole navigation package fit into your pocket, bag or glove compartment Latest Map Guarantee: The latest map guarantee keeps you right up to date. If a new version of any map on this device is released within 30 days of your purchase, you can download a new one via TomTom HOME for free TomTom Mapshare™ Technology: Make corrections to your own map and benefit from thousands of corrections made by TomTom users every day - free of charge Updates from TomTom HOME: Get new software and download new maps via TomTom Home site, includes free and subscription services Sound: Loud and clear voice instructions Points of Interest: Pre-installed map has Points of Interest from petrol stations to hotels. Can be updated via TomTom HOME Traffic-Ready: Compatible with TMC Traffic Receivers, so your route can be altered to avoid the traffic ahead Plug & Go: Just plug in and tap the touch screen to begin using the intuitive user friendly interface Advanced lane guidance: Gives you extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions IQ Routes™ technology: Get a faster route to your destination, up to 35% of the time QuickGPSfix™: Get a faster route to your destination, up to 35% of the time Speeding alert: Alerts you that youre speeding, even if you''re not in navigation mode Help Me! menu: You can find help with local emergency service information at your fingertips. From hospitals to roadside assistance, this information will be useful in any area Accessories: Comes with USB car charger and USB cable Dimensions: 123 mm x 82 mm x 27 mm Weight: 185 grams Battery: Lithium-Ion (up to 3 hrs autonomous battery life) Memory: 2 GB internal flash memory TomTom Ticket 2 Drive savings when you purchase this product before 30th September 2009. Click here for more information

Signature Natural Cotton Pot Pourri Box, at M&S
Natural cotton fragrance Presented in a box, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Denim Skirt, at Marks & Spenser
Cute and comfy, this frill hem skirt is made from pure cotton denim for a fashionable casual look

Big & Tall Flat Front Trousers with Wool, at M & S
No more trips to the drycleaners! These smart, fashionable trousers are machine washable. Perfectly proportioned for big and tall men

Autograph Square Porcelain Soap Dispenser, at Marks and Spenser
H18 x W7 x D7cm Pump action Stripe design at the base, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

When you're shopping at Marks & 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 Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at MarksandSpencer 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."