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 & Spencer are so useful. M&S Money financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks & Spencers 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 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 Property Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

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

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

Classic Collection Self Check Blouse, at Marks & Spensers
Smart and stylish, this self check blouse will give your look an instant lift. It looks lovely worn with plain skirts or trousers in coordinating colours from the Classic collection

7 Pure Cotton Animal Stripe Bodysuits, at Marks & Spenser
Cute and practical, this 7 pack of bodysuits features assorted animal designs. The soft cotton fabric will keep him comfy and the popper fastenings are great for fuss-free changes

Wide Leg Drawstring Trousers, at Mark & Spensers
Fluid and feminine, these wide leg trousers are cut to flatter, giving an elegant silhouette. A stylish, fashionable look

Double Sided Body Tape, at Mark's & Spencer
Body tape is ideal for securing low cut garments and holding your clothes in place just where you want them

Portfolio 3/4 Sleeve Geo Floral Print Blouse with Camisole, at Mark's & Spencer
Part of Portfolio's Mimosa trend. A beautifully elegant look featuring chic, muted tones such as cocoa, mink, saffron and purple. Striking prints are key to this feminine trend

Perfect Supima® Pure Cotton Towel Collection & Bathmat, at Marks & Spencers
Neutral tones, delicate pastels or bright, bold shades Face: L33 x W33cm Hand: L100 x W50cm Bath: L137 x W68cm XL: L178 x W89cm Bathmat: L86 x W55cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Freedom Ridge California Pinot Grigio 2008 - Case of 12, at Marks and Spencer
Style: Full bodied Grape variety: Pinot Grigio Country of origin: California Closure: Screw cap Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.8 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

Autograph Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Shirt, at M&S
Stylish and contemporary, this pure cotton shirt is part of our luxurious Autograph collection. The fabric has been created exclusively for us to tie in with this season's key looks, so you won't find it anywhere else

Leather Laundry Basket, at Marks and Spencer
Ideal for laundry Circular design Plain Comes with lid H60.2 x Diam42cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Long Sleeve Cardigan, at Marks and Spenser
A fashionable longline cardigan in a soft fabric featuring contrast floral waist sash tie, finished with a pleated front

Sequin Dots Bed Set, at Marks & Spencer
Embroidered sequin dots design Single set includes duvet cover (3ft) and 1 pillowcase Double set includes duvet cover (4ft 6in) and 2 pillowcases King size set includes duvet cover (5ft) and 2 pillowcases, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Plain Longline Tie Waistcoat, at Marks and Spencer
Contemporary and casual, this longline cardigan is made with cool comfortable cotton and features a tie waist for a fashionable look

2010 Slim Diary, at Marks and Spencers
Dimensions: 16.5 x 8cm

Pure Silk Leaf Embroidered Cushion, at Marks & Spensers
Square shape Leaf embroidered design Lined L50 x W50cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Collezione Stitch Detail Leather Shoes, at Marks n Spencer
Luxurious and contemporary, these leather shoes are part of Collezione, inspired by Italian style. Their superior design, quality and hand finishing make them a sophisticated and fashionable choice

Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 1000 Set, at Marks and Spencer
Optical sensor Spill-resistant design 6 month battery life Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2000 compatible Includes mouse, keyboard and receiver 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

Spot Mesh Padded Balcony Bra, at Marks and Spencer
Feminine and pretty, this spot design padded balcony bra is ideal for everyday wear. Underwiring and padding give an uplifted and enhanced natural shape

Ultimate Crossword Puzzle Book, at Marks and Spencers
Contains over 600 crosswords, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Limited Collection Stud Ankle High Buckle Boots, at Marks & Spencer
Heel height: 51mm Round toe Stud detail 3 buckle fastening feature Ankle high Mid heel Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Sprung-Edge Divan with 1 Small + 1 Large Drawer & F100 Mattress, at Marks & Spencer
Single Mattress (3ft): W90cm x L190cm Single Divan (3ft): W90cm x L190cm Mattress depth: 24cm Divan Height: 41cm Large Drawer: H14 x W78 x D52cm, Small Drawer: H14 x W40 x D52cm Smaller drawers at the head end are designed to open without moving your bedside table Open coil mattresses provide a hard-wearing and supportive background Can be used with any mattress All mattresses and divans are anti-allergy protected Mattress does not require turning All mattresses and Divans are manufactured in the UK A sample mattress is subjected to 3 rigorous tests to ensure it remains comfortable. Surface fabric is rubbed 15,000 times against a hard surface to test resistance to wear. Mattress is pounded by a machine 80,000 times to replicate the movements of a human torso and subjected to 20,000 rolls of a roller machine to simulate the rolling motion of a sleeping person Free eco-friendly home delivery. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Classic Underwired Built-Up Shoulder Bra, at Mark's & Spencer
A lovely addition to your day to day underwear drawer. This versatile bra combines the shaping and support of underwiring and adjustable straps with the convenient comfort of an easy to care for design

Brass Collection Damask Table Lamp, at Marks and Spencers
Brass finish Damask shade 30.5 x 30.5 x 70cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Limited Collection Cotton Rich Rio Square Scarf with Silk, at Marks & Spencer
Add a contemporary twist to your look with this rio square scarf. The perfect accessory to complement this season's styles

Elasticated Waist Belt, at Marks and Spencer
Define your waistline with this fashionable elasticated waist belt

Autograph Light Control Lace DD-G Body, at M+S
Look slimmer in seconds! This light control body gently shapes your figure all over for a smoother, sleeker silhouette. Beautiful exclusive lingerie

Autograph Luxury Pure Cotton Blend Stripe Shirt, at M&S
Smart and refined, this shirt is part of an exclusive range of beautiful garments, available only in our top stores and online. It's made from superfine yarn so it feels luxuriously smooth. Designed for a stylish contemporary look and great fit

Simi the Kitten & Butterflies Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Special Birthday Wishes! Inside message: Have a wonderful day! This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 215 x 150mm

Coloured Glass Collection - Ball Candle Holder, at Marks n Spencer
Diam 12 x H13cm Thick base Includes ball-shaped candle Coloured glass design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Serene Bouquet, at Marks & Spencers
An exquisite display of white blooms including Hydrangea, Alstroemeria, Lilies and Roses, beautifully backed by mixed foilage Available for delivery between 1st April to 30th September 2009

Sony DSC-HX1 Digital Camera, at Marks & Spencers
Pixels: 9.1 megapixels Zoom: 20x optical zoom lens, 108x smart zoom, 40x precision digital zoom Screen: 3 inches LCD monitor type: TFT ISO Sensitivity (REI): Auto,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 Dimensions: H82.8 x W114.5 x D91.8mm Weight: 453g Video: HD movie clips at an incredible 30 frames per second CCD Type: Exmor™ CMOS Sensor Flash Mode: Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash Scene Selection: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Twilight using a tripod, Backlight, Backlight Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Portrait Recording Media: Memory Stick™ Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo™. Memory Stick PRO Duo™ High Speed (No Speed Advantage), Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ (same speed as PRO Duo), Internal memory (11MB) Recording Format: JPEG, AVC/H.264 Panorama: (7.152 x 1.080) / (4.912 x 1.080) / (4.912 x 1.920) / (3.424 x 1.920 Battery System: Lithium H Supplied Battery: NP-FH50 Stamina (battery life) with the supplied battery(s) in normal shooting condition: 390 shots, 195min (CIPA standard with LCD screen on) Supplied Software: Picture Motion Browser Ver.4.2 (Windows only) + Music Transfer Supplied Accessories: Rechargeable battery pack (NP-FH50), Battery Charger, Multi Connector Cable, Power Cord, CD-ROM, Lens Cap, Lens Cap Strap, Shoulder Strap, HDMI adaptor Includes: Camera, European warranty card, lens cap strap, quick reference guide, lens cap, battery charger, instruction manual, multi connector cable Exmor™ CMOS sensor boosts sensitivity while suppressing image noise for superb low-light pictures 9.1 effective megapixels resolution for very high quality imaging and detail-packed enlargements Premium G Lens by Sony with high-power 20x optical zoom range and 28mm wide angle 1080p HD movie recording captures crisp, detail-packed HD video clips plus stereo sound at 30 frames per second Optical SteadyShot image stabilization for reduced camera shake with handheld shooting, especially in low light or at high zoom settings Enhanced Face Detection with selectable adult/child priority high-speed subject tracking for clearer portraits. Includes Face Motion Detection and Selected Face Memory Enhanced Smile Shutter automatically fires shutter when subject smiles: now easier to use with adjustable smile threshold Intelligent Scene Recognition simplifies shooting by choosing best settings for difficult conditions such as twilight portraits and backlit scenes

Besides Marks and Spencers Motor Insurance, M&S Money Credit Cards and other financial products, M&S Money Property 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 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 Marks n Spencer purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both M&S Money Premier Property Insurance and Standard Property 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.