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&Spencer, 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 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 Car Insurance is something that almost everyone needs - at least if you own a car. Unfortunately there are so many companies offering Car Insurance today that, after a while, one policy may begin to look much like the next.

Thinking that most Car 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 Car Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Car Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately M&S Money Direct Car Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Car Insurance to the competition then it stacks up quite nicely.

For example, here are just some of the options which come as standard with Mark & Spencers 5 Star Premier cover Car Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Car 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 Car 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.

When you're shopping at M & S 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 Property Insurance and Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks & Spencer 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."

Autograph Older Boys Diamond Check Tie, at M & S
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

Single Breasted 2 Button Plain Jacket, at Marks and Spencer
A style classic at a great value price, updated with a modern cut and contemporary detailing

Girls' Limited Pure Cotton Acid Wash Dress, at Marks and Spencer
Part of Girls' Limited, a contemporary casual collection in trend-conscious styles and soft comfortable fabrics, designed for easy layering. Perfect for stylish girls who love looking fashionable

2 Pack of Plain Shorties, at Marks & Spencers
Easy to wear and easy to care for, these great value shorts are woven from pure cotton and have a gathered waist, ensuring a comfortable and snug fit throughout the night

Collezione Exclusive Pure Cashmere Herringbone Jacket, at M+S
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

If You're Happy And You Know It Sound Book, at Marks and Spenser
Children will love pressing the buttons while singing along to if you're happy and you know it. Comes with the beautifully illustrated nursery rhyme book

Autograph Pure Cotton Belted Straight Leg Jeans, at Marks and Spencer
Fashionable and contemporary, these straight leg jeans are part of our exclusive Autograph collection. A great design, superior fabric and careful attention to detail make them exceptionally stylish and comfortable

Spot Design Shower Curtain, at M & S
Spot print design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Travel Essential Pop Up Brush, at Marks and Spencers
Compact Fold away Internal mirror

2 Litre Glass Mixing Bowl, at Marks & Spencers
2 litre capacity Classic shape Transparent, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Coupe Cup & Saucer, at Marks & Spencers
Suitable for everyday use Versatile fine dining range Makes an ideal gift Pure white porcelain Cup height: 7cm Saucer diameter: 16cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Watermelon Pot Pourri Bag, at Marks and Spencer
Watermelon scented assortment, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Pure Linen Suit Trousers, at Marks & Spensers
Perfect for smart occasions, these classic linen suit trousers make a fashionable and practical choice

Hand Finished Photographic Trinket Box Mother's Day Card, at Marks and Spenser
Cover text: Just for you Mum xx Inside message: There are things that always cheer me Whenever I feel blue Theyre little pearls of wisdom And I learnt them all from you Approx size: 178 x 126mm

Handcrafted Painterly Roses Valentine Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover text: To my Valentine Inside Message: With all my love Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Patch Jacquard Throw, at Marks&Spencer
Jacquard design Tasselled trim, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

7 Pairs of Big & Tall Freshfeet Stripe Socks with Silver Technology, at Marks & Spencer
Our odour control Freshfeet socks are now better than ever with a new Sanitised Silver finish. Known for its natural antibacterial properties, silver helps reduce the presence of bacteria that causes smelly odours, so your feet stay fresh with every step and it keeps working for the lifetime of the socks

Autograph Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Shirt, at Marks and Spencers
Feminine and elegant, this sophisticated shirt is beautifully designed and cut for a flattering shape and features a stunning stripe print

Artificial Rose Spring Flowers with Ceramic Vase, at Marks and Spenser
Artificial roses in a ceramic vase Diameter: 36cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

DD-G Lace Strap Minimiser Bra, at M & S
Soft and comfortable, this minimiser bra gently shapes your bust to make it look smaller. A flattering, supportive style

2 Younger Boys' Pure Cotton Monkey Pyjamas with Toy, at Marks & Spencers
Made from comfortable, breathable pure cotton, this pack of 2 monkey print pyjamas are outstanding value

Sleeveless Cable Knitted Cardigan with Cashmere, at Marks and Spencer
A touch of cashmere adds luxurious softness to this practical sleeveless cardigan. A smart modern look

3 Authentic Woven Pure Cotton Boxers, at M&S
Made from soft breathable cotton, these comfy boxers are ideal for everyday wear

150 Maths and English Activities, at Marks & Spencer
150 Maths and English activities designed to support learning at school. Carefully linked to the National Curriculum. With over 200 gold stars and sticker badges to encourage and reward your child

Maxim Pasta Bowl, at Marks and Spencer
Versatile fine dining range Pure white porcelain Suitable for everyday use Makes an ideal gift Diam 22cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Rich Tie Waist Cropped Jogging Bottoms, at MarksandSpencer
Casual and comfortable, these easycare cropped jogging bottoms feature embroidered butterfly details for a modern look

Parisian Chic Calendar, at M&S
Approx. size: 225 x 390mm

Artificial Orchid Spray in Ceramic Bowl, at Marks & Spencer
Artificial orchid Ceramic bowl H75cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Short Sleeve Bib Top, at Mark's & Spencer
Smart and stylish, this short sleeve top is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a bib detail

Nintendo DS™ Need for Speed: Undercover, at Marks & Spencer
Go Deep Undercover: Race into an action-packed story of pursuit and betrayal. Take on jobs and compete in races to prove yourself as you infiltrate and take down an international crime syndicate Highway Battle: Fight off the cops and others as you take down your prey in high-speed, high stake multi-car chases. New and vastly improved A.I. mechanics mean more aggressive and intelligent cops focused on taking you out fast and by any means necessary Own the Open World: Tear across the massive highway system and discover the open world of the Gulf Coast Tri-Cities area, with three unique cities connected by an extensive highway system Heroic Driving Engine: An all-new game engine lets you pull off amazing moves for the ultimate driving edge. 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 You must be 12 years of age or over to purchase this product, Platforms: Nintendo DS, ESRB Rating: Teen

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