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

M&S Money Direct 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 M&S Money Direct 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 & 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 M&S Money Direct UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

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. M&S Money Direct financial products are, of course, designed to make Mark's & Spencer 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, Property Insurance policies. Usually, UK Property 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 M&S Money Direct Property 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 M&S Money Direct Property Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

Knee Length Stitch Detail Pencil Skirt, at Marks & Spencers
Sleek and stylish, this knee length pencil skirt is designed for a shapely silhouette. A smart modern style

Autograph Manor Damask Cushion, at M&S
Square shape Damask design L56 x W56cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

2 Pairs of Performance Quick Dry Sports Socks, at Marks and Spencers
Specially contoured left and right socks follow the shape of the toes to give a perfect, comfortable fit. Shock absorbent micro cushioning helps protect high-impact areas and gives stability while extra heel support helps reduce pressure that can lead to injury. Dry fit yarn lets feet breathe

The Cotton Collection Cotton Bud, Bath and Body Duo, at Mark's & Spencer
Bath foam: 160ml Body cream: 75ml Drift away with our PH balanced bath foam to cleanse and soften your skin Smooth away your day with our moisturising body cream to soften and nourish your skin

Dyson DC22 Allergy Vacuum Cleaner, at Mark & Spensers
Suction power: 200 airwatts (constant) Bin capacity: 1.2 litres Root Cyclone™ technology: Dyson vacuum cleaners separate dirt from the air by centrifugal force. It spins the air incredibly fast and the dust and dirt is flung out into the clear bin™. Suction is maintained as there is no bag to become clogged No bags or filters: No extra costs and your vacuum doesn't lose power as you clean Hygienic and quick to empty: Dyson design minimises risk of contact with dirt Included in the box: Mini Flat Out™ tool, combination tool, stair tool, operations manual, quick start guide Dimensions: H291 x W402 x D263mm Weight: 7.1 kg Cord length: 5 metres Max reach: 8.6 metres 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Exclusive Beaded Hipster Bikini Bottoms, at M&S
Luxurious and exclusive, these glamorous bikini bottoms are beautifully designed in a flattering, fashionable silhouette for the ultimate in style. They're made from soft, comfortable fabric and finished with careful attention to detail

Long Sleeve Stripe Hooded Top, at Marks and Spencers
A stylish wardrobe essential in pure soft cotton. Ideal for layering

2 Older Girls Seam-Free Picot Heart Trim Bras, at Marks n Spencer
These great value bras are ideal for everyday wear. They're made with stretchy fabric for a supportive and comfortable fit and the non-wired design is the best choice for first bras

Heirloom Heart Drop Earrings, at Mark's & Spencer
Hook fastening Drop style Heart design

T345623C, at Marks & Spenser
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Assorted Print Hooded Jacket, at M & S
Cute and cosy, this hooded jacket is made from soft cotton fabric to keep him feeling comfy

Limited Collection Vintage Dove Cluster Necklace, at Marks & Spensers
Clasp fastening Adjustable length Dove cluster pendant Ball detail Necklace length 45cm, extendable by 8cm

Gatsby Floating Faux Pearl Necklace & Earring Set, at Marks and Spencer
2 part set Stud drop earrings with facetted bead Multi strand necklace with assorted beads and clasp fastening Necklace length 38cm, extendable by 6cm

Blue Harbour Pure Linen Long Sleeve Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
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. Colour variations make each garment unique

Die Cut Pink Flowers and Vase Birthday Card, at Mark's & Spencer
Cover Text: Happy birthday to you today Inside Message: Love and wishes for a wonderful day Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Pure Cotton 3/4 Sleeve Crochet Detail Kaftan, at Marks & Spenser
Fresh and feminine, this kaftan is outstanding value. Style and quality at a great price

Flat Front Crease Resistant Trousers, at Marks & Spencer
Smart and stylish, these easycare crease-resistant trousers are outstanding value

Autograph Pure Silk Long Sleeve Beaded Kaftan, at Marks & Spencer
Luxurious and exclusive, this sophisticated kaftan is beautifully designed in a flattering, fashionable silhouette for the ultimate in style. It's made from soft, comfortable fabric and finished with careful attention to detail

Blue Harbour Block Stripe Rugby Top with Lambswool, at M+S
Fashionable and comfortable, this block stripe rugby top is made from a soft lambswool blend

5 Real Cool Cotton™ Bathing Belles Shorts, at Marks n Spencer
These assorted low rise shorts are made from RealCool Cotton™, an innovative high performance cotton fabric which keeps you cool, dry and comfortable

Maternity Contrast Piping Camisole Top, at Mark's & Spencer
Pretty and feminine, this contrast piping camisole top is designed to flatter you and your bump. Added stretch and a clever cut give a neat, comfortable fit with room for growth. Enjoy your pregnancy in style!

5 Pairs of Ribbed Tip Toe Sports Socks with Cool&Fresh, at M & S
These cotton rich sports socks feature a cushioning sole for shock absorption and comfort. Knitted arch support keeps them in place during exercise

Blue Harbour Cotton Rich Funnel Neck Sweatshirt, at Marks and Spencers
Relaxed and cosy, this cotton rich sweatshirt is extremely comfortable and can be worn layered for a contemporary look

Pure Chronos CD Clock Radio, at M+S
Frequency ranges: Band III 174-240 MHz, FM 87.5-108 MHz CD Player: CD-R and CD-RW playback. Support for CD Text and 20 track audio CD playlist. Multiple playback modes (repeat, shuffle, etc). MP3/WMA playback, including support for ID3 tags Speakers: Two 3" x 1.5" custom-wound oval drive units Input connectors: 9V DC power adaptor socket (230V supplied). 3.5mm Line-in for auxiliary devices Output connectors: 3.5mm stereo output for headphones Controls: Power on/standby, sleep, source, tune/select, menu, alarm, info, presets, volume, play/pause, stop, fast forward, rewind and snooze Remote: Infrared remote control LCD display: LCD display with 16 x 2 characters, plus additional function icons (volume, time, alarms, signalstrength, source selected, repeat and shuffle) and large clock. Features adjustable backlight (active and standby mode) with auto-dimmer Mains power supply: 230V AC to 9V DC external power adapter Aerial: Wire aerial attached Alarm: Four independent alarm settings, with wake to tone, DAB, FM or CD options Light sensor: Adjusts the display brightness to suit the ambient light in your room MP3/WMA: Play MP3 or WMA files from CD or CD-R/RW. Supports ID3 tags Text scan: textSCAN™ - pause and control scrolling text RDS: RDS support for station name display on FM and RDS scrolling text Dimensions: H12.5 x W19.5 x D18.5cm 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

Automatic Slimline Plain Umbrella, at M&S
Lightweight and easy to carry, this slimline umbrella is perfect for keeping at hand for effective protection from sudden downpours

Double Waisted Pinstripe Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
These tailored bootlegs are designed to skim the hips and thighs and gently flare to give a flattering long-legged look. Practical as well as stylish, they're machine washable for added convenience. A smart choice for work or formal occasions

Collezione Oxford Dress Shoe, at Marks & Spenser
Round toe Lace up Stitch detail Block heel

Long Length Cross Panel Skirt, at Mark's & Spencer
Fashionable and contemporary, this panelled skirt is designed to fit and flatter. A modern style essential

Limited Collection Darling Bow Necklace, at MarksandSpencer
Clasp fastening Adjustable length Snake design chain Bow feature Necklace length 40cm, extendable by 8cm

Disney Pixar Cars Wrap Pack, at Marks & Spenser
Pack contains: 2 sheets, 2 tags Approx size: Each sheet: 495 x 695, Tags: 80 x 55mm (folded) Disney / Pixar

Marks & Spencer may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Property Insurance or Motor 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 M+S 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 Property 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 (Property Insurance, Motor 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 & Spencers insurance products in document format too.