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 & Spensers, 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 Home Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

M&S Finance Insurance: There are, quite literally, hundreds of companies in the UK from whom you can purchase insurance. Whether you're looking for the best deal on Motor Insurance, buildings and contents insurance, or even wedding insurance, it doesn't take long to find a company that will sell you a policy.

However, not all insurance companies, and certainly not all insurance policies, are the same. What may be standard on one insurance policy may be an optional extra on another, for instance; Motor Insurance and Home Insurance are especially like this.

For example, most home and contents insurance policies either ask you to provide the total cost of rebuilding your home plus the total value of your home contents, or they will set an upper limit. This may seem fine at the time, but, in the event of a claim on your Home Insurance policy, the values act as maximum limits, and so you may, in effect, be under-insured and not receive the full value of your insurance claim.

Fortunately, M&S Finance Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.

Besides Mark's & Spencer Motor Insurance, M&S Finance Credit Cards and other financial products, M&S Finance Home 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 Mark & Spencers purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both M&S Finance Premier Home Insurance and Standard Home 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.

Marin Ridge Shiraz 2007 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spencers
Style: Full bodied Grape variety: Shiraz Country of origin: USA Closure: Natural cork Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.1 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.7 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Per Una Patent Finish Frame Bag, at Marks & Spencer
A patent finish makes this fashionable bag even more special. Give your look the Per Una twist!

Skull & Stripe Bedset, at M+S
Skull and stripe design Set includes single duvet cover and 1 pillowcase, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Older Boys' Widefit Tramline Loafer School Shoes, at Marks and Spencers
Square toe Tramline detail Plain Slip on Loafer style Widefit feature

Blue Harbour Funnel Neck Fleece Jacket, at Mark's & Spencer
Relaxed and cosy, this long sleeve fleece jacket makes a warm and comfortable extra layer

16-Piece Cutlery Set, at Marks & Spencers
16-piece set Includes 4 knives, 4 forks, 4 spoons and 4 teaspoons Coloured handles 18/10 stainless steel - the highest grade of stainless steel Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended): please note we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more l, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Boys' Adventures Duo Multipack of Cards, at Marks&Spencer
Cover text: Design 1: Happy Birthday, Design 2: blank Inside message: blank for your own message Pack contains: 8 cards, 2 designs Approx size: 138 x 138mm

Handbag Mug, Tray & Coaster Gift Set, at Marks and Spenser
Contains: 1 mug, 1 coaster, 1 tray Handbag design Mug height: 10.5cm Coaster dimensions: 10.5 x 10.5cm Tray dimensions: L21 x W14 x D1.5cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Collezione Luxury Pure Wool Fine Stripe Trousers, at Marks and Spenser
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 these trousers to give you a feeling of luxury like no other

Philips 57'' FL7404 Full HD LCD TV, at Marks and Spencer
HD Ready 1080p: High Definition Multimedia Interface™ (HDMI) connections make your TV a multimedia centrepiece. Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, Digital Camcoder and satellite dish components into the rear connection for displaying an HD source on an HDTV Display: 57 inch LCD TV Contrast Ratios: Dynamic contrast 80,000:1 Integrated Digital and Cable Tuner Aerial Input- 75 ohm coaxial (IEC75) , Video Playback- NTSC, SECAM, PAL , DVB- DVB-T MPEG4*, DVB-C MPEG4* Tuner bands-Hyperband, S-Channel, UHF, VHF Dimensions: W126 x H77 x D12cm (without stand) , W126 x H82 x D31cm (with stand) Weight: 28kg (without stand), 32kg (with stand) Connections: 4 x HDMI , PC connectivity, USB, EasyLink (HDMI-CEC)- One touch play, Remote control pass-through, System audio control, System standby HD Natural Motion: Philips invented HD Natural Motion to eliminate juddering effects that are visible with movie-based picture content 2 x 10 W with Incredible Surround: An invisible sound system that blends perfectly with the design of the cabinet Picture enhancement: Pixel precise HD, 3/2 - 2/2 motion pull down, 3D Combfilter, Active Control + Light sensor, Digital Noise Reduction, Dynamic contrast enhancement, Luminance Transient Improver, Progressive Scan, 2D/3D noise reduction, 100 Hz LCD, HD Natural Motion Playback Formats: MP3, LPCM, JPEG Still pictures, MPEG1, MPEG2, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Video formats: 480i, 60 Hz, 480p, 60 Hz, 576i, 50 Hz, 576p, 50 Hz, 720p, 50, 60 Hz, 1080i, 50, 60 Hz, 1080p, 24, 25, 30, 50, 60 Hz Computer formats: 640 x 480, 60 Hz, 800 x 600, 60 Hz, 1024 x 768, 60 Hz, 1280 x 1024, 60 Hz, 1360 x 768, 60 Hz, 1600 x 1200, 60 Hz, 1920 x 1080, 60 Hz Sound: 2 x 10 W (Incredible Surround, Treble and Bass Control, Nicam Stereo ) Power: 220 - 240 V, 50 Hz This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more 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, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Photographic Toy Cat Daughter Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Happy birthday to a special daughter Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 150 x 150 mm

UEFA EURO 08 PC Game, at Marks & Spencer
UEFA EURO 2008 features stunning visual representations of the world's best players, playing in a more accessible, faster-paced and responsive version of the market-leading EA SPORTS football engine, and all of the teams and official stadiums that will be part of UEFA EURO 2008. Take on the challenge of leading one of over 50 European national teams to glory as UEFA EURO 2008 recreates all of the drama and excitement of the official tournament in Austria and Switzerland. Play as your favourite country from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the championship tournament

Robot Grandson Birthday Card, at Mark & Spencers
Cover text: Grandson, Happy Birthday Inside message: Have a great day! Approx size: Unfolded: 215 x 150 mm

Oscar Wardrobe, Changing Unit, Cot Bed & Open Coil Sprung Mattress Set, at Marks and Spenser
*Save 25% when you buy this set. Individually 859. Save 237. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer 4 piece set Wardrobe: Hanging rail, 2 shelves, 1 draw - H180 x W96 x D55cm Changing unit: 4 drawers - H103 x W90 x D55cm Cot Bed: H89 x L147 x W82cm Cot under bed drawer: H12.5 x W132.5 x D65cm Cot converts into a junior bed suitable for children up to age 5 Cot has fixed sides with 3 optional height positions for the base Mattress: Spring count 90 - L140 x W70 x D15cm Mattress has hygienic, moisture-resistant covering and fully conforms to current safety standards All joints are glued and pressed together in the factory, giving more inherent strength than flat pack fittings 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Weekend Modal Rich Dressing Gown, at Marks & Spensers
Modern and sophisticated, this spot print dressing gown is part of our exclusive Autograph Weekend collection. It's beautifully designed and made from modal with stretch which feels incredibly soft and comfortable to wear

Gentle Music for Babies CD, at M&S
Audio CD, Marks & Spencer

2 Silicone and Wood spatulas, at MarksandSpencer
These essential spatulas can be used for a multitude of culinary tasks. Incredibly practical the wooden handles ensure safe heat insulation

Cotton Rich Low Rise Plain Shorts, at Marks & Spenser
Low rise shorts are perfect for wearing with hipster styles and these stylish cotton rich shorts are shapely and modern. Added stretch gives a comfortable, flattering fit

Checkerboard Cosmetic Bag, at Marks & Spencer
Rectangular Zip fastening Check pattern Side pouch

Earth Spa Bath & Body Rescue Oil, at Marks & Spensers
With ingredients from around the globe to restore, replenish and pamper Perfect in the bath, on the body, or in the hair 100ml

Sony 32GB WALKMAN® MP3 Player, at Marks & Spencer
Digital Noise Cancelling delivers amazing audio fidelity while blocking out external ambient noise (total suppression ratio of 17dB / 98%) Select Noise Cancelling manual settings for bus, plane, train or office to match your environment; or Quiet Mode for any usage S-Master Digital Amplifier for crystal clear sound with no distortion or analogue signal errors - putting you centre-stage in the studio or concert hall Clear Audio Technologies reproduce sound that's as true to the original source as it can be, for a mind-blowing listening experience Clear Stereo and Clear Bass deliver a perfectly precise and clear sound, cutting out audio distortion whatever the volume DSEE restores sound quality lost during file compression, recreating high frequencies as close to the original recording as possible 13.5mm EX earbud headphones for balanced rich sound quality, with unique closed and air-tight fit giving you deeper bass Five band equaliser and VPT to customise music settings Open format support for all major file types includes MP3 / MP4 / WMA / AAC / Linear PCM / AVC / WMV / JPEG 3" full colour OLED touchscreen display for razor-sharp, ultra-bright video playback in incredible detail and clarity (WQVGA 432x240 pixels / 262,144 colours) 32GB storage holds up to 8,000 tracks (128kbps mp3) or over 120 hours video playback (at 384kbps) OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology for 100% colour reproduction, 10000:1 contrast ratio and wider viewing angles (up to 180 degrees) OLED technology for super-quick response times (0.1ms) - giving you breathtaking results on screen, even with fast-moving action scenes like sports Continuous playback for 33 hours of music and 9 hours of video Hi-speed USB port, and easy charge (3 hours full charge) Music searching by album, artist, genre, release year, playlists and folder Video playback includes scene scroll, to stop and start content using intelligent touchscreen technology Put your own soundtrack to photo playback, and create your own wallpaper using stored images Import, preview and transfer music, photos and videos straight from your computer to your WALKMAN player with Content Transfer software Quick start guide, USB cable, audio input cable and plug adaptor for in-flight use supplied Dual hybrid touchscreen and button operation, for easy control on the move Pre-installed and customisable wallpaper graphics Surf the web with built-in Wi-Fi: On-board connectivity lets you stream YouTube™ clips and podcasts

Playmobil Road Sweeper Toy, at Mark's & 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

Classic Collection Herringbone Check Pencil Skirt, at Marks and Spencer
Sleek and elegant, the pencil skirt is a true style classic. This herringbone check skirt is designed to give a comfortable, flattering fit and polished look.

Big And Tall Luxury Wool Double Breasted Jacket with Cashmere, at Marks & Spencer
Specially proportioned for big and tall men, this double breasted jacket is designed to give a flattering, comfortable fit

Per Una Essentials Cotton Rich Non Padded Bra, at Marks & Spenser
Elegant and feminine, this stylish bra in stretch cotton fabric features a lace trim and centre button detail. It's underwired for great support and an enhanced natural shape. Pretty everyday fashion

Mother of Pearl Square Photo Frame 7.5 x 7.5cm (3 x 3"), at Marks & Spenser
Mother of pearl border Aperature: 7.5 x 7.5cm (3 x 3"), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Clear Glass Bowl, at Marks and Spencers
Clear glass Transparent, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Boy Washing Line with Teddy New Baby Card, at Marks & Spenser
Cover text: Baby boy Congratulations Inside message: With love Approx size: Unfolded: 178 x 126mm

Multiway Non-Padded Bra, at Mark & Spencers
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

Snap Trilby with Linen, at Marks & Spenser
Make a stylish impression with this trilby. It adds a smart touch to formalwear and looks contemporary with casuals

When you're shopping at MarksandSpencer 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 Finance. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Home Insurance and Motor 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 Finance. 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 Finance, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Finance 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."