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 M+S 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 & Spencers, 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 Motor 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.

Shopping for financial products at Marks & Spencers Money UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the MarksandSpencer online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the Marks & Spencers Money website:

• M&S Insurance: M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Buildings 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 Marks & Spensers, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

And, just as importantly, contacting Marks & Spencers Money in the event of a query, or an insurance claim, is as easy as picking up the phone, or visiting the Marks & Spencers Money website.

There are lots of ways to save money using Marks & Spencers Money. Not least of these is Marks and Spencer Standard Motor Insurance. With Marks & Spencers Money you can keep the cost of your Motor Insurance down by choosing Standard cover, over Premier Cover. UK Vehicle can then be added to your policy as optional extras, if you wanted to.

If you're thinking of adding both Breakdown Cover and Motor Legal Protection, then it would cost less to upgrade to Premier Motor Insurance cover from Marks & Spencers Money, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Motor Insurance policies on offer from Marks & Spencer, and these include: Courtesy car (subject to availability); Loss, theft, damage and destruction of vehicle; Loss or damage to personal property in vehicle; Personal accident cover up to £10,000; Windscreen cover (£75 excess); a 24 hour claims service, and many other options as standard on each policy. In short, with Motor Insurance from Marks & Spencer Money, you get more, and you pay less.

Single Breasted Suit Jacket, at Mark's & Spencer
Smart and classic, this single breast jacket is outstanding value. A practical, hardwearing and easycare style

Welcome Reds & Whites - Case of 12, at Marks & Spenser
1 Domaine Cambos Gros Manseng 2008 1 Miradou, Ctes de Provence Ros 2008 1 Domaine Lafage VdP des Ctes Catalanes 2007 1 Campo Bravo Rioja Vendimia Seleccionada 2007 2 Santa Gloria Chardonnay 2008 2 Ponticello, Pinot Grigio di Sicilia 2008 2 Santa Gloria Merlot 2008 2 Villagio, Negroamaro Puglia 2008 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Gold Band Champagne Glass, at Mark & Spencers
Flute style Gold band Long stem Wide base Height: 27.5 cm Capacity: 14cl, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Hello Kitty Hooded Mac, at Mark & Spensers
Don't let rainy days spoil the fun! Fashionable and comfy, this hooded mac will protect her from showers.

Petite Chevron Dart Straight Leg Trousers, at M & S
Smart and stylish, these straight leg trousers make a great choice for work or formal occasions and they're machine washable for added convenience. Specially designed and perfectly proportioned for the petite frame

Hannah Montana Calendar, at M & S
Dimensions: 225 x 390mm Disney

Lego City Front End Loader Toy, at Marks&Spencer
Suitable for ages 5+ Move around the construction site with ease! Front end loader pivots and the bucket lifts and lowers! Includes 1 construction worker minifigure! Measures 8 inches (20cm) long! This product conforms to the EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Pure Cotton Stripe Jumper with Hat, at Marks and Spencers
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

Pure Cotton Floral Print Pyjama Bottoms, at Marks & Spencers
Fashionable and fun, these soft floral print pure cotton pyjama bottoms are designed to be mixed and matched. Relax in style and comfort

Sleeveless Longline Tunic, at Marks & Spensers
Casual and contemporary, this longline tunic features a pleated front with waist tie feature

Side Ring Bikini Bottoms, at Marks and Spencers
Gorgeous and glamorous, these fashionable bikini bottoms feature a stylish side ring. Make a splash!

Portfolio Textured Bootleg Trousers with Linen, at Marks & 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

Kitchen 1000mm 3 Drawer Base Unit, at Marks & Spensers
H87.5 x W100 x D52cm Some self-assembly required. Delivered boxed to your door. You will need to unpack, assemble and position the item yourself This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Gold Plated Tubby Clip Earrings, at Marks & Spencers
Clip-on style Gold plated This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Autograph Digital Display Watch, at Marks and Spenser
Stylish and contemporary, this digital watch features a large time display with day indicator, fashionable and practical must-have

Autograph Pure Cashmere Bold Stripe Hooded Cardigan, at Marks and Spenser
Soft and snuggly, this practical cashmere cardigan will keep her feeling warm and comfortable. With luxury in every detail, this is part of our exclusive Autograph collection

Large Blonde Rag Doll, at Marks and Spencers
Not recommended for babies under 12 months Hair ribbon detail Apple print design Suitable for ages 1-3yrs This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

5 Cotton Rich Low Rise Shorts, at M+S
These low rise cotton rich shorts are perfect for everyday wear. Added stretch gives a comfortable fit and shape retention

Sony Stamina Plus AA Alkaline Batteries - Pack of 4, at Marks & Spencers
Voltage (V): 1.5 Cells per pack: 4 Size: AA / LR6 Ideal for high power applications which require intense and durable energy such as portable hifi, toys & audio devices *Must be returned with the tamper seal intact for full refund

Girl Washing Line with Teddy New Baby Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Baby girl congratulations Inside message: With love Approx size: Unfolded: 178 x 126mm

Pure Cotton Roll Up Broad Brim Hat, at Mark & Spensers
Express your stylish side with this wide roll up brim hat

Autograph Flock Stripe Padded Bra, at Marks & Spencer
Luxurious and elegant, this underwired bra features flock stripe design. Gentle padding and underwiring give a flattering uplifted shape. Beautiful exclusive lingerie

Pure Cotton Floral Embroidered Tablecloth, at Marks n Spencer
Embroidered floral detail, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Metal Mix Sunglasses, at Marks and Spencers
Providing essential protection for the eyes, these stylish and wearable shades will flatter most face shapes

Connoisseur Chocolate Rose Cake, at Marks & Spencer
Serves 25 Chocolate cake: a rich chocolate cake filled with milk chocolate ganache. Chocolate cakes can be eaten up to 5 days after collection Contains alcohol - Grand Marnier liqueur Cake size: Diam 25cm 1.7kg Not suitable for nut allergy sufferers Suitable for vegetarians As featured on page 67 of the Food to Order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 7 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Perfect Bootleg Trousers with Piping Detail, at Marks & Spencers
Elegant and timeless, the clean styling of these bootlegs make them a versatile essential you'll wear again and again

Short Sleeve Stripe Body Top, at MarksandSpencer
Smart and stylish, this short sleeve body top is made from softly draping stretch viscose for a fluid look. The stripe design adds a fashionable finishing touch

The Floral Collection Lavender Soap, at Mark's & Spencer
3 x 75g Lavender scented Added moisturisers

Pinstripe Design Wide Leg Trousers, at Marks & Spencer
Fluid and feminine, these wide leg trousers are cut to flatter, giving an elegant silhouette. Practical and fashionable, they make a great choice for work or smart occasions

Airflex™ Apron Derby Shoes, at Marks and Spencers
Square shaped Lace-up 3 Eyelets Shallow block heel

Besides Mark & Spensers Motor Insurance, Marks & Spencers Money Credit Cards and other financial products, Marks & Spencers Money Buildings 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 Marks & Spencers 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 and Spencer purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both Marks & Spencers Money Premier Buildings Insurance and Standard Buildings 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.