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 Marks & Spencers Money 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 Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

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

Marks & Spencers Money 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 Marks & Spencers Money 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 M&S 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, Sainsbury's, 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 Marks & Spencers Money UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

Autograph Textured Bootleg Trousers, at M&S
Part of Autograph's Luxe Tradition trend. Luxurious and contemporary with a sense of British heritage, this trend features a soft colour palette, modern prints and beautiful fabrics. A sophisticated look for the new season

Elephant & Cat Multipack of 8 Cards, at Marks and Spencers
Cover Text: All designs - blank Inside Message: All designs - blank for your own message Pack Contains: 8 cards, 3 designs Approx. Size (folded): 95 x 80 mm Approx. Size (unfolded): 200 x 80 mm

M&S 22" HD Ready LCD TV with DVD and FREEVIEW™ - Silver, at Mark & Spencers
HD Ready: This TV is able to display sharper, clearer and more vibrant High Definition images when connected to an HD compatible device HD Ready: 1080i, 720p Display: 22" flat screen 1680 x 1050 pixels Contrast Ratio: 700:1 Integrated Digital Tuner: Gives you access to all Freeview™ terrestrial digital TV channels and all digital radio stations (subject to coverage in your area) Dimensions: H45.5 x W54 x D20.5cm Sound: Nicam Stereo Connectors: audio, D-sub, PC stereo, scart, S-video, HDMI slot DVD Player: Built-in DVD player Use wall mount T042100 to perfectly mount this TV

Per Una Buckle Shoes, at Marks & Spencer
Buckle feature Slip-on Mid heel Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes Heel height 74mm

Clocktower Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - Case of 6, at M+S
Style: Dry Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc Country of origin: New Zealand Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians 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

Autograph Leaf Jacquard Runner, at Mark's & Spencer
Textured stripe design Embroidered leaf detail Straight edges, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Gold Plated Oval Pendant Necklace & Earrings, at Marks and Spencer
2 part set Oval pendant necklace Drop earrings with hook fastening

Compton Media Unit, at Marks & Spencer
H50 x W127 x D45cm Shelf dimensions: H14 x W48 x D40cm 2 adjustable shelves Made from White Oak solids and veneers Hand distressed, with the distressing aged with dark patina Mid-brown stained finish, followed by 2 coats of durable, clear lacquer of low sheen Solid hardwood legs Side panels, door panels, back panels made from oak veneer. Top panels made from oak veneer with a solid oak edging for strength All joints are glued and pressed together in the factory, giving more inherent strength than flat pack fittings Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item 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

Cashmilon™ Long Sleeve Knitted Cardigan, at Marks and Spencer
Fashionable and flattering, this knitted cardigan is made from supersoft cashmilon™ and features a deep v-neck

Formula Age Restructure Eye Cream, at Marks & Spencers
Intensive silky smooth eye cream for the 60+ complexion Brazilian ginseng, Marapuama and white lily complex to target dark circles and puffiness around the eyes Calcium complex to firm and improve the structure of the sagging skin Collageneer a lupin extract to strengthen and improve skin elasticity Suitable for all skin types Hypoallergenic 15ml

2 Organic Cotton 3/4 Sleeve Blouses, at M+S
The natural choice for school, these blouses are made from 100% organic cotton, grown using traditional farming methods without chemical fertilisers or pesticides

Smooth Cup Padded Bra, at Marks & Spencers
Sleek and stylish, this bra is perfectly smooth, so there are no visible outlines under clothing. Light padding and underwiring give an enhanced natural shape. Designed for women who want a streamlined silhouette

2 Per Una Essentials Clover Embroidered Padded Bras, at Marks and Spencer
Elegant and feminine, these bras are beautifully embellished with clover embroidery. Soft padding and underwiring give support and a flattering natural shape. Pretty everyday fashion

Pure Cotton Police Patrol Hooded Top, at Marks and Spencers
Fun and fashionable, this pure cotton hooded top is outstanding value!

Cut Flowers Wax Lantern with Plate, at Marks and Spencers
Wax lantern Cut flowers roomscenter Roomscenter burns for up to 4 hours 15ml roomscenter Comes with candle plate, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Long Sleeve Riviera Cardigan, at Marks & Spenser
A sophisticated long sleeve cardigan in a soft fabric. Featuring a chiffon trim to give it the Per Una touch

iPod Nano Leather Flip Case, at Marks & Spencers
Flip Case for iPod Nano, the stylish black leather case also features a handy popper fastening attachment allowing you to have easy access to your iPod. The leather case with its quality stitching protect your iPod in style. Compatible with all Apple iPod Nano's

10 Personalise Your Own Pink Heart Place Cards, at Marks and Spenser
Pack contains: 10 cards, 1 design Approx size: Flat: 90 x 90mm, Folded: 45 x 90mm The cards in this pack are made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests

Divan Sets - M400Z+SE 4 DRAWER, at Mark & Spencers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Block Stripe Swimsuit, at Marks & Spencers
Modern and shapely, this flattering swimsuit is designed in the latest shape. A fabulous fashionable look

Sony Bravia 40'' KDL-40W5500 HD Ready LCD TV, at Marks&Spencer
HD Ready 1080p: Displays images in Full HD 1080p, the maximum resolution defined for HDTV use, when connected to an HD compatible device Display: LCD Sony Bravia Engine 3 with a 40 inch viewable screen and a display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels Dynamic Contrast: 100000:1 Integrated Digital & Cable Tuner: Provides access to all Freeview™ channels and radio stations (subject to coverage) and is cable TV ready (with supported providers only) Dimensions: With table stand: W98.7 x H68.6 x D30.3cm, without table stand: W98.7 x H63.8 x D9.3cm Weight: inc. stand 21kg / without stand 18kg Dolby Virtual Surround and BBE Digital: Experience the effect of digital surround sound from only two front speakers with our advanced S-Force Front Surround technology Connectors: Digital Audio Output (optical) x 1, HDMI™ Inputs x 4, HDMI™ PC Signal Capability, PC Input (15pin D-Sub) + Audio In, Component Inputs x 1, Composite Video In x 1, 4 Pin (Y/C) In (S Video), USB 2.0 Input, MiniJack (Head/Earphone) 3.5mm, PCMCIA Card Slot, RCA Audio Out, Analogue Audio Inputs x 2, RF In, Scart Inputs (RGB) x 2, BRAVIA Sync, DLNA Ethernet (Video/Music/Photo), AppliCast™ BRAVIA Engine 3: Enjoy images with impressive depth and clarity, optimal contrast, vibrant colours and truer-to life tones with BRAVIA ENGINE 3 24p True Cinema: Shows images at 24 frames per second just like a real cinema screen Xross Media Bar: New Sony interface to enhance the operability and ease of use Picture Frame Mode: Not watching TV? Turn it into a digital photo frame to display your own pictures or the 6 pre-installed images BRAVIA Theatre Sync: Synchronises your Sony theatre system so it can be operated by the press of a single button 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 Please Note: To receive the full range of Freeview™ channels, customers should use an outdoor wide band aerial. Suitable portable TV aerials can be used to receive Freeview but the quality of the reception is dependent on the quality of the product and the signal area. Due to these factors you may not receive all Freeview channels when using an indoor aerial Please Note: Freeview™ is not yet available to the whole of the UK. We advise that you check that your postcode area can receive the Freeview signal before ordering this product Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Essentials Pintuck Bikini Briefs, at Marks & Spensers
Elegant and feminine, these stylish bikinis feature pintuck details. The low rise style gives a flattering shapely fit and is ideal for wearing under hipsters. Pretty everyday fashion

5 Pairs of Ventilated Sock Trainer Liner Socks with Cool&Fresh, at Marks & Spencer
Comfortable and durable, these socks feature a reinforced toe and stretch fabric for an improved fit

Cut About Stripe Long Length Skirt, at Marks and Spencer
Elegant and feminine, this A line skirt features a cut about stripe print and panel design. Stylish, practical and fashionable

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Mock Layer Top, at M&S
Soft and comfy, this long sleeve mock layered top is made from pure cotton and features a rocket motif. A fashionable easycare style

6 Stainless Steel Teaspoons, at Marks & Spencer
6-piece set 18/10 stainless steel - the highest grade of stainless steel This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Large Etched Mirror Jewellery Box, at Marks and Spenser
Etched mirror design 2 drawers

The Floral Collection Magnolia Moisturising Hand & Body Lotion, at MarksandSpencer
Hand and body moisturising lotion 250 ml

Post Surgery Total Support Non-Wired Bra, at Mark's & Spencer
When we were challenged to produce a range of beautiful, post surgery garments, we wanted to get it right - so we asked women affected by breast cancer what they wanted. The result is a range of gorgeous, feminine lingerie designed to feel incredibly comfortable and the perfect fit for you. Every element has been considered for maximum comfort against delicate scar tissue. This lingerie has been extensively tested so you can be confident that every part stays in place

Limited Collection Pure Cotton Frill Shirt, at Mark's & Spencer
Part of Limited Collection's Club Rio trend - get tropical in a heady mix of hot, sun-drenched hues and modern graphic prints with fresh white accents. A fashion-conscious holiday look

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

Whether you're looking for savings products or Marks & Spencers Money loans, credit cards or Buildings Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, Marks & Spencers Money can save you both time and money, with comprehensive information available at a click.

Free insurance quotes are available online for all of Marks & Spencers Money insurance products (Buildings 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 and Spencer insurance products in document format too.