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 & Spensers 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 M & S, 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 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.

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Money. Not least of these is Marks and Spencer Standard Car Insurance. With M&S Money you can keep the cost of your Car 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 Car Insurance cover from M&S Money, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Car Insurance policies on offer from Mark's & 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 Car Insurance from M&S Money, you get more, and you pay less.

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

• M&S Insurance: M&S Car 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 Mark & Spencers, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

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

Pure Cotton 3/4 Sleeve Stripe Jumper, at Marks and Spencer
Contemporary and casual, this stripe jumper is made from pure natural cotton and features a v-neck for a fashionable look

Abbey Armchair, at Mark & Spensers
H95 x W95 x D95cm Seat H54cm (all dimensions are approximate) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support 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 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

The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World, at Marks and Spencer
This pint-sized paperback version of the best-seller The Travel Book inspirational images and text will make travel from your armchair a delight and inspire your future travel plans A-to-Z coverage of 218 countries

Sonoma Office Desk & Desk Tidy Set, at Marks and Spencer
*Save 25% when you buy this set. Individually 648. Save 162. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer Tidy: 2 drawers and fixed glass shelf Tidy: H16 x W106 x D22.5cm Desk: 1 large pull out drawer with fold down front, ideal for a keyboard Desk: H77 x W131 x D65cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Peter Rabbit Multipack of Cards, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: Both designs: Easter greetings Inside message: Both designs: blank for your own message Pack contains: 4 cards, 2 designs Approx size: 70 x 145mm BEATRIX POTTER™ Frederick Warne & Co. 2009 Frederick Warne & Co. is the owner of all copyrights and trademarks in the Beatrix Potter characters names and illustrations. Licensed by opyrights group

Lego™ City Dump Truck Toy, at Marks&Spencer
Suitable for ages 5+ Tilt the bed and dump the load Includes 1 construction worker, barrier, rocks and road sign Measures 8''(20cm) long and 3''(7cm) high 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

Long Sleeve Ribbed Trim Cardigan, at Marks and Spencer
Modern and stylish, this cardigan features delicate buttons. A versatile, easywear style

Big And Tall Single Breasted 2 Button Jacket, at Mark & Spensers
Specially proportioned for big and tall men, this single breasted jacket is designed to give a flattering, comfortable fit

Dinner Jazz CD, at Marks n Spencer
Audio CD, Marks & Spencer

Single Breasted 2 Button Corduroy Jacket with Inner Gilet, at Marks & Spencer
A smartly tailored mock layer jacket in pure cotton

Pink Floral Dress Mum Birthday Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: To a very special Mum on her birthday Inside message: With all my love This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future. Approx. size: 230 mm x 114 mm

40 Denier Silky Soft Tights, at Marks & Spenser
Complete with a reinforced toe and added stretch for lasting comfort and durability, these opaque tights are the perfect choice for giving your legs a wonderfully attractive sheen

PlayStation®3 Little Big Planet Game, at Marks&Spencer
Community-based game in which players meet on a planet scattered with individual plots Design, shape, and build both objects and entire locations for others to view and play Full of places to discover, creative resources to collect, and puzzles to solve Explore the massive single-player game or go online to find user-generated content Customizable characters, landscape, and more; online and offline multiplayer modes 2007 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe 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 *Must be returned with the tamper seal intact for full refund, ESRB Rating: Everyone

Fairtrade Pure Cotton Scoop Neck Top, at Marks & Spensers
2 for 8 offer excludes items in the sale Look below to see a video clip about Fairtrade This stylish longer length short sleeve top is a good deal for you and for our Fairtrade farmers. It's made from 100% Fairtrade cotton, helping local farmers to invest in developing their own communities

Flowers by Post - 22 White Fairtrade Roses, at Marks and Spencer
Simply exquisite, order these white Fairtrade Roses and they'll be carefully wrapped and delivered by first-class post. Flowers by Post is a great value way to spoil someone you know - or yourself Fairtrade Certified Flowers

2 Cotton Rich Sleeveless Mesh Vests, at Mark's & Spencer
A seam free design along the sides and the soft qualities of cotton ensures these great vests provide the ultimate in everyday comfort

5 Pairs of Younger Boys' Cotton Rich Assorted Socks, at Marks & Spenser
Brighten up his underwear drawer with these fashionable assorted design socks made with soft breathable cotton

Traidcraft Embroidered Shoe Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover Text: Blank Inside message: blank for your own message Approx size: 138 x 138mm

Perfect Pure Cotton 3/4 Roll Up Sleeve Longline Shirt, at M&S
Simple sophistication. This longer line shirt adds crisp, business-like chic to any outfit

Beef Sirloin Joint, at Mark's & Spencer
Serves 6-8 Ready to cook Suitable for freezing Gluten free 1.6kg total weight Matured for 21 days for extra tenderness As featured on page 34 of the Food to Order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 5 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Limited Collection Tribal Hobo Bag, at Marks and Spencers
This bag will always look chic with its bead and tassel detail. Adds style to your look in an instant!

Bailey Bench, at Marks and Spencers
H45 X W38.3 X L166cm Made from solid wood and features natural characteristics such as knots and variations in grain pattern Timber will age over time and fade to a silver grey colour unless treated regularly with oil Includes plain seat pad in 100% polyester This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Younger Girls' Dora The Explorer Trolley Bag, at Marks and Spencer
Fans of Dora the Explorer will love this extendable grip handle trolley bag featuring the popular character

Panasonic 46'' TX-P46G10 Full HD Plasma TV with freesat HD, at Marks and 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: 46 inch plasma screen, 2,073,600 (1,920 x 1,080) pixels Contrast ratio (in dark surroundings): Native 40,000:1, Dynamic 2,000,000:1 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: W113.2 x H76.7 x D40.1cm (with stand) H749 x 113.2 x 72.2 x 10.6cm (without stand) Weight: 32kg (with stand) 29kg (without stand) V-Audio with SRS TruSurround XT: V-Audio delivers crystal-clear sound with superior bass performance while the SRS TruSurround produces enhanced surrounding effects Connectors: 3 x HDMI, 2 Scart, PC Input, S-Video, Component Video Input, Headphone Jack VIERA Superior Picture Quality: The VIERA system provides richly expressed images with enhanced contrast and deeper natural colours, thanks to the wider x.v.Colour palette Digital Cinema Colour: Superb colour reproduction with 5,1200 steps of gradation Intelligent Frame Creation With 24p Playback: With 50Hz video signal input, the Intelligent Frame Creation achieves high moving picture resolution even in fast-motion scenes. 24p Playback creates high speed playback of images to recreate the full cinematic experience SD Card Slot: View your treasured photos on the big screen by simply removing your camera's memory card and sliding it into the SD card slot VIERA Link: Enables you to control all your AV systems with only one remote Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Maternity Drawstring Tunic, at Mark's & Spencer
Fashionable and modern, this scoop neck tunic is designed to flatter you and your bump. A drawstring waist gives a neat, comfortable fit with room for growth. Enjoy your pregnancy in style!

Collezione Luxury Leather Messenger Bag, at Mark's & Spencer
Whether you're heading off to school, work or simply the beach, keep your essential items within easy reach with the functional, stylish design of this great day bag

5 Cotton Rich Stripe High Leg Thongs, at Marks & Spencer
These high leg cotton rich knickers are perfect for everyday wear. Added stretch gives a comfortable fit and shape retention

Cotton Rich Deep Lace Shorts, at Marks & Spensers
These pretty deep lace shorts are shapely and modern. Added stretch gives a comfortable, figure-flattering fit

Pink Glitter Stripe Medium Gift Bag, at Mark & Spencers
1 gift bag Approx size: H260 x W200 x D90mm

Post Surgery Floral Lace Bra, at Marks and Spencer
Pretty and feminine, this lace bra is made from soft microfibre fabric and gives a gently supportive fit and a flattering shape. It features 2 secure prosthesis pockets

Marks and Spenser 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 & Spencers 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 Money Direct 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 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 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 & Spencers insurance products in document format too.