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 and 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 M&S 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 & Contents 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 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 Marks and Spencers 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.

Marks and Spencer may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Buildings & Contents Insurance or Motor 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 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 M&S Money loans, credit cards or Buildings & Contents Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, M&S Money 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 Money insurance products (Buildings & Contents Insurance, Motor 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 Spenser insurance products in document format too.

Leather Dual Prong Punch Hole Belt, at Marks and Spencer
This leather belt is ideal for wearing with casual styles

Gold Plated Catseye Stud Earrings, at Marks and Spencer
Catseye design Butterfly fastening For hygiene reasons, refunds will only be given in accordance with your legal rights

High Impact Non-Wired Sports Bra, at Marks & Spencer
Comfortable and secure, this high impact sports bra gives firm, gentle support for active wear

Long Length Wavy Embellished Skirt, at M & S
Long and lovely, this panelled skirt features embellishment detail. Stylish, practical and fashionable

Collezione Classic Trim Leather Moccasin Shoes, at Marks and Spencer
Slip on Round toe Small square block heel Stitch detail

Dressing up Butterfly Age 3 Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: Happy Birthday Inside message: Have a lovely day This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future. Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Small Teardrop Gem Photo Frame 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4"), at Marks and Spencers
Round shape Tear drop gemstone design Aperture: 10 x 15cm (4 x 6in), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

2" Longer Pure Cotton Sateen Stripe Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
Smart and stylish, this 2" longer sleeve stripe shirt is made from pure cotton

2 Autograph Fine Stripe Slips, at Mark's & Spencer
A comfortable, easy to care for fabric teams up with a stripe design here to create a stylish addition to your day to day underwear drawer

Per Una Multi Strand Acid Slice Pendant Necklace, at Marks & Spencer
Acid slice round pendant Mixed bead design Multi strand Length: 50cm

Zebra Mannequin Jewellery Holder, at M&S
Mannequin design Multiple hooks H18"

F100 Open Coil Memory Foam Coolmax° Mattress & Divan On Legs, at MarksandSpencer
No turn mattress Mattress and divan are anti-allergy Mattress: spring count 288, depth 23cm Divan height: 31cm Single 3ft: W90 x L190cm Double 4ft6: W135 x L190cm King size 5ft: W150 x L200cm Super king size 6ft: W180 x L200cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Multicolour Boxes Rug, at Marks and Spencers
Multi-coloured box pattern Small: L140 x W80cm Medium: L170x W120cm Large: L230 x W160cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Pure Cotton Embroidered Crepe Blouse, at Mark's & Spencer
A delicate embroidered crepe blouse in pure cotton, the front pleat detail gives it the Per Una touch

Autograph Leather Desert Boot, at Marks & Spenser
Round toe Stitch detail Low heel Contrast sole

OK! - Magazine Gift Subscription, at MarksandSpencer
OK! First for celebrity news! Be part of the A List and catch up with your favourite stars only in OK!. Every week you'll be amazed by our world exclusive interviews, our Access All Area weddings and all the latest celebrity news and gossip

Classic Lila Lace Trim Full Briefs, at Mark & Spencers
Stylish and flattering, these full briefs give complete coverage at the front and back and are extremely comfortable to wear

Global Traveller Medium Rollercase, at Marks & Spencer
Free 5 year guarantee Make transporting your belongings a hassle-free experience with the super lightweight and durable design of this hardwearing rollercase

2 Compton Leather Chairs, at Marks & Spencers
H103 x W45 x D50cm Leather seat pad Sold as a pair Made from solid oak and oak veneer 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 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. SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy these chairs with antiqued-leather chairs as part of a set. Click here to view the Compton Collection Set. This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Pleated Spot Print Dress, at Marks and Spencers
A sophisticated cap sleeve dress, featuring pleated bustline detail and a contrast hem

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Cardigan, at Mark's & Spencer
Soft and comfy, this lightweight knitted pure cotton cardigan is outstanding value. A fashionable easycare style

Interactive Giraffe, at Mark's & Spencer
With a rattle, bell and scrunch Contrast fabric Double lined for safety Height: 30cm Suitable for ages 0+ This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Abbey 2-Seater Everyday Sofa Bed, at Marks & Spenser
H95 x W196 x D102cm (opens to L178cm) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Fabric options feature reversible cushions Mattress L178 x W112 x D5cm (all dimensions are approximate) Sprung mattress rests on a slatted wooden base Mattress recommended for everday use Sofa Bed will support a maximum combined weight of 160kg 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 dark 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 samples: 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 than fabric upholstery due to the nature of the material, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Value Machine Washable Bow Tie, at M+S
A machine washable fabric and ready to wear bow tie provides hassle free convenience

Macon Rouge 2007 - Case of 12, at M&S
Style: Medium bodied Grape variety: Gamay Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork 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

Toshiba Satellite L350-212 Laptop, at Marks & Spenser
Processor: Intel Celeron Processor T1600, 1.66 GHz clock speed, 667 MHz front side bus and 1 MB 2nd level cache Memory: 2,048 MB standard, 4,096 MB maximum expandability, DDR2 RAM (800 MHz) Hard Drive: 160 GB (S.M.A.R.T) Display: 17" Toshiba TruBrite WXGA+ TFT High Brightness display Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit Edition (pre-installed, Toshiba-HDD recovery) Graphics Card: Mobile Intel GMA 4500M, up to 1,340 MB total available graphics memory with 3 GB system memory DVD Super Multi Drive (Double Layer) : CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-R(DL), DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R(DL), DVD+RW, DVD-RAM Expansion: 2 x memory slots (1 to configure), 1 x ExpressCard slot Interfaces: 1 x DC-in, 1 x external monitor, 1 x RJ-11, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x external microphone, 1 x headphone (stereo) USB Ports: 3 (Left 2, Right 1) x USB 2.0 Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) Wireless LAN, Fast Ethernet LAN, 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX international V.90 modem (V.92 ready), 56 Kbps data and 14.4 Kbps fax Bundled software: Toshiba Disc Creator, Toshiba User's Manual, Supervisor Password Utility, Toshiba Assist, Toshiba DVD Player, Ulead DVD MovieFactory for TOSHIBA, McAfee Internet Security Suite - Toshiba Edition (includes free Internet updates for 30 days), Toshiba Recovery Disc Creator, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (free 60-day trial), Toshiba Value Added Package (Toshiba Power Saver, Toshiba Zooming Utility, Toshiba PC Diagnostic Tool, Toshiba Flash Cards, Toshiba Components Common Driver, Toshiba Accessibility, Toshiba Button Support), Google Software (Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Google Desktop, Picasa), Connectivity Doctor, ConfigFree™, Toshiba utilities and drivers Toshiba EasyMedia : Google Software (Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Google Desktop, Picasa), Toshiba TEMPRO Performance Tuning Service, McAfee Internet Security Suite - Toshiba Edition (includes free Internet updates for 30 days), Smart Display Support, Toshiba Flash Cards, Easy Keys, Diversity Antenna, Toshiba ConfigFree™, Internal HD 720p support Special features : SM BIOS compliant, Multimedia Bar with 6 touch Easy Keys (Mute, Rewind, Play, Stop, Forward, CD/DVD launcher), Standard numeric keypad, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, HD Audio support Dimensions : W398 x D292 x H35.3 (front) / 43.1 (rear) mm Weight : starting at 3.15 kg Battery : lithium-ion, up to 2h 30min (Mobile Mark™ 2007) 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

Classic Collection Pure Cotton Frill Neck Top, at M+S
Feminine and pretty, this versatile 3/4 length sleeve top is made from soft easycare fabric and features frill neck design. A fashionable style with a comfortable, flattering fit

Travel Cushion, at Marks & Spenser
Cylinder design Polyester beads filling for extra comfort Pink

Ruby Changing Unit, at Marks and Spencers
H103 x W90 x D55cm 1 drawer 1 cupboard Changing top is removable when no longer needed Clean white finish Made from solid wood 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

In Bloom Orchid & Vanilla Hand & Body Creme, at Mark & Spensers
Orchid and vanilla fragrance Softens the skin 200ml

When you're shopping at Marks and Spencer 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. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Buildings & Contents Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks and Spencer than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from M&S Money. 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, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Money 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."