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 Mark & Spencers, through its M&S Financial Services 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 & Contents Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

Marks & Spensers may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Buildings & Contents 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 Financial Services website. With a simple, no-hassle service, you can compare features between a number of Marks & Spencers Money products and competitor's products, and sign up in just a few minutes.

Whether you're looking for savings products or M&S Financial Services loans, credit cards or Buildings & Contents Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, M&S Financial Services 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 Financial Services insurance products (Buildings & Contents 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 & Spensers insurance products in document format too.

Shopping for financial products at M&S Financial Services UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Marks & Spencer online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the M&S Financial Services website:

• M&S Insurance: M&S Car Insurance, M&S Buildings & Contents Insurance, M&S Life Insurance, M&S Wedding Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance
• M&S Credit Cards: M&S Credit Card, M&S Premium Club Card
• M&S Loans: M&S Car Buying Plan, M&S Personal Loans
• M&S Money: M&S Travel Money for your trips abroad
• M&S Savings: M&S Everyday Savings Account, M&S Fixed Rate Savings, M&S Stocks & Shares ISA, M&S Cash ISA, M&S Unit Trust

Of course, many of these types of product can be purchased elsewhere too; however, once you begin to take a closer look at the products from M & S, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

And, just as importantly, contacting M&S Financial Services in the event of a query, or an insurance claim, is as easy as picking up the phone, or visiting the M&S Financial Services website.

5 Pure Cotton Plain Midi Knickers, at Marks & Spencer
Made from pure natural cotton, these plain briefs are cool, comfortable, breathable and perfect for everyday wear

Damask Pure Cotton Leaf Pattern Tablecloth, at Mark & Spencers
Damask design Leaf pattern, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Girlie Dress Up Stamper Set, at Mark & Spencers
Contains: 1 case, 5 stamps, 1 ink pad and 10 sheets of notepaper Approx size: 11 x 9cm

Collezione Wool Rich Single Breasted 3 Button Jacket, at Marks and Spenser
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

Age Defence Hydrating Day Cream, at Marks & Spencers
Especially formulated to help delay the first signs of ageing Triple action complex to trap essential moisture and hydrate Creatine, Orange extract and Vitamin C brightens your complexion Replenishes your skin with vitamins, and essential moisture Suitable for all skin types Hypoallergenic 50ml

Starry Animal Presents Multipack of Mini Cards, at Mark's & Spencer
8 cards, 4 designs Cover text: All cards are blank Inside message: blank for your own message This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 95 x 80mm

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Space Dog T-Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
Fun and fashionable, this pure cotton long sleeve dog t-shirt is outstanding value!

Indian Summer Sprig Napkin Ring, at Marks&Spencer
Diam 11cm Beaded design Round Beaded tassel detail, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pointelle Thermal Crochet Trim Vest, at Marks & Spencer
Indulge in soft, warm comfort with this thermal easy to wear knitted vest. Perfect for adding a snug extra layer to your outfits during the winter months

DeLonghi Icona Toaster - Pearl White, at Marks and Spencer
Power 1.8kW 4 slice toaster Electronic controls: reheat, defrost, bagel and cancel All functions with neon indicator Extra lift position Variable browning controls Extra deep crumb tray Pearl white finish 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

Cashmilon™ Long Sleeve Turtle Neck Jumper, at M+S
Fashionable and flattering, this turtle neck jumper is made from supersoft cashmilon™ and features a turtle neck.

Drawstring Waist Wales Joggers, at Marks & Spencers
Sports fans will love these cosy joggers featuring the Wales motif. A practical, easycare style

Fraser Armchair, at Marks and Spencer
H99cm x W107cm x D102cm Seat: H48cm (all dimensions are approximate) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Other cushions filled with polyester fibre. Gives a soft sit with a lived-in look, which will soften and relax even further with use. Fibre is sewn into channels within the interior to prevent settlement in one area of the cushion Fabric options feature reversible cushions Frame made from solid hardwood. All main joints are glued and screwed to give the frame strength Frames are rigorously tested with 95kg weight equivalent and exceed standards set for heavy domestic use Solid birch feet with a medium finish All of our fabrics are treated with Stain-Defence™ - a stain resistant finish - at no extra cost. Fabrics are tested for resistance to wear and fading Detailed care instructions are included 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 Free swatch service: Order up to 6 free swatch samples of any fabric to help you choose your upholstery by calling 0845 603 1 603 Please note: Images displayed here act as a guide and may not be representative of the finished item. Fabrics are overlayed onto model images, so actual seams and pattern match may differ from what is shown. Leather furniture, in particular, has more seams that fabric upholstery due to the nature of the material, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Modern Squares Bathmats, at Mark's & Spencer
Square pattern Bathmat: L80 x W50cm Pedestal: L55 x W50cm Bathmat and pedestal mat must be purchased separately, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Silver Plated Diamanté Charmer Hoop Earrings, at M&S
Hook fastening Hoop design Diamant detail For hygiene reasons, refunds will only be given in accordance with your legal rights

Per Una Pure Cotton Polka Dot Revere Pyjamas, at Marks & Spencer
Modern and feminine, these pretty polka dot revere pyjamas are made from pure cotton. So you can relax in comfort and style. Part of Per Una's sleepwear collection

Frill Detail V-Neck Swimsuit, at MarksandSpencer
Look slimmer in seconds! This comfortable swimsuit is made with a control panel to make tummies look flatter. Secret Support™ shapes, lifts and enhances your bust. A stylish, flattering look.

Lotus Flower Pot Pourri Box, at Marks and Spencers
Floral scented assortment, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Embossed Floral Flourish Your Anniversary Card, at Mark & Spencers
Cover text: On your anniversary Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 150 x 150mm

3 Pure Cotton Assorted Sleepsuits, at Marks & Spencer
Soft and snuggly, this practical pack of sleepsuits is great value! The cotton fabric is comfy to sleep in and popper fastenings make quick changes easy

Pure Cotton Scoop Neck Ribbed Vest, at M&S
This sleeveless vest will make a useful addition to your wardrobe. It features simple ribbed finish for a stylish casual look

Easy Iron Pure Cotton Bold Edged Stripe Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Stylish and innovative, this bold edged stripe easycare shirt is quick and easy to iron for a smart crisp look

Fish & Seafood Bible - From the Ocean to the Table, at Marks and Spencer
You will be surprised by the imaginative combinations of ingredients in seafood dishes, while flavours from around the world will take you on a culinary trip along the coasts of other countries and continents. A bible no kitchen should be without

Handmade Outfit 40th Birthday Card, at Marks & Spenser
Cover text: 40 Inside message: blank for your own message This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 175 x 126 mm

Glass Top Digital Food Preparation Scales, at Marks & Spenser
Maximum capacity: 5kg/11lb Modern design Free standing, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Minnie Mouse Top, at M & S
Fans of Disney will love this long sleeve cotton top featuring Minnie Mouse. A practical, easycare style

Pure Cotton Stripe Towel Bale, at Marks and Spencer
4 piece set Stripe trim design 2 x hand towels: 50 x 90cms / 500gsm 2 x bath towels: 70 x 120cms / 490gsm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Ditsy Floral Print Bedset, at Marks and Spenser
Ditsy floral print Single set includes single duvet cover (3ft) and 1 pillowcase Double set includes double duvet cover (4ft 6in) and 2 pillowcases King size includes king size duvet cover (5ft) and 2 pillowcases, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

5 Cotton Rich Scallop Trim Full Briefs, at M+S
A great value pack, ideal for everyday wear. This pack contains a mixture of designs and colours. See Click for zoom and other views

Gradient Stripe Tie, at Mark's & Spencer
No more trips to the drycleaners! This striped tie is machine washable

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