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

When you're shopping at M+S 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 Marks & Spencers Money. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Home Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Mark's & Spencer than you might imagine.

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

50/50 Bed Linen - Bed Set with Reversible Pillowcase & Duvet Cover, at Mark's & Spencer
Single set: Duvet cover, 1 fitted sheet, 1 pillowcase Double set: Duvet cover, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases King Size (5ft) set: Duvet cover, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases Single set: Duvet cover - L198 x W137cm, fitted sheet - L190 x W91cm Double set: Duvet cover - L198 x W198cm, fitted sheet - L190 x W137cm King Size (5ft) set: Duvet cover - L218 x W228cm, fitted sheet - L200 x W152cm Fitted sheet depth: 25cm Pillowcase: L76 x W48cm Plain dye bed linen Easy to iron Plain fabric (no design) Reversible pillowcase and duvet cover Care instructions: Machine washable, Tumble dry Composition: 50% cotton, 50% polyester, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Round Neck Ruffle Sleeve Top with Necklace, at Marks & Spensers
Part of Kids' Autograph, a luxurious collection of beautifully designed clothing in smart styles and high quality fabrics with superior finishing details. Kids' Autograph gives a stylish well-dressed look.

Dualit Jug Kettle - Cream, at Marks & Spensers
1.5 Litre - 12 cup capacity 3000 watt Rapid boil concealed element Washable limescale filter Cordless operation Large viewing windows on both sides Can be placed on its base at any angle Heatproof handle, ball knob and finger-guard Non-slip rubber feet Oversized non-drip spout Weight: 1.36kg Dimensions: H27cm 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Large Wine Glass, at MarksandSpencer
Large wine glass, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Hooded Jacket, at Marks & Spenser
Relaxed and modern, this long sleeve hooded jacket makes a comfortable and practical choice

Per Una Tab Front Knee Length Dress, at M&S
A fabulous knee length dress featuring tie cuff details

Round Electronic Scales, at Marks and Spencer
Circular glass shape Digital Display Capacity: 28st, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Fuji FinePix Z30 Digital Camera, at Marks & Spencer
Pixels: 10.0 megapixels Zoom: 3x optical zoom, 5.7x digital zoom Screen: 3.0" TFT LCD Display ISO: Auto / Equivalent to ISO 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 (Standard Output Sensitivity) Dimensions: W9.2 x H5.79 x D2.26cm (excluding accessories and attachments) Weight: Approx. 116.5g (excluding accessories, battery and memory card) Face Detection: Face Detection technology with automatic red-eye removal Movie recording: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames/sec. With monaural sound Power source: Rechargeable NP-45 Li-ion battery (included) Self-timer: Approx. 10sec. / 2sec. delay

Autograph Pure Cotton Flannel Trousers, at Marks & Spencer
Fashionable and contemporary, these flannel trousers are part of our exclusive Autograph collection. A great design, superior fabric and careful attention to detail make them exceptionally stylish and comfortable

Filigree Collection - 3-Arm Chandelier, at Marks and Spencer
3 light chandelier Clear glass droplets Tiered H 75 x Diam 36cm Bulb: 5 x E14 Golf Ball 60W This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

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

Pure Cotton Check Shorts, at Mark's & Spencer
Soft and comfortable, these cotton shorts can be worn alone or with a number of our pyjama tops and t-shirts to create your own style

Handkerchief Bowl, at Marks and Spencers
Handmade Handkerchief detail making each piece individual and unique Clear glass Chunky base H13 x Diam 28cm 2kg, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Playstation®3 UEFA EURO 08 Game, at Marks & Spencers
35 day return policy* UEFA EURO 2008 features stunning visual representations of the world's best players, playing in a more accessible, faster-paced and responsive version of the market-leading EA SPORTS football engine, and all of the teams and official stadiums that will be part of UEFA EURO 2008. Take on the challenge of leading one of over 50 European national teams to glory as UEFA EURO 2008 recreates all of the drama and excitement of the official tournament in Austria and Switzerland. Play as your favourite country from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the championship tournament

Per Una 3/4 Sleeve Frill Neck Jersey Top, at Marks and Spencer
A stylish 3/4 sleeve jersey top in textured fabric featuring frill neck detail

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

Disney Princess Glitter & Glamour Puzzle, at Marks and Spenser
Suitable for ages 3+ 37 pieces, including 4 stand-up pieces Heart shaped puzzle with a metallic foil finish This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive Disney, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

10 Personalise Your Own Pink Heart Place Cards, at Marks and Spencers
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

Per Una Stripe Bikini Bottoms, at Marks & Spencer
A stylish low rise pair of bikini bottoms featuring a stripe print design

2 Younger Girls' Pure Cotton Skinny Pyjamas, at Marks and Spencer
Cute and comfy, these pure cotton pyjamas are outstanding value

Per Una Floral Print Frill Blouse, at M & S
An elegant short sleeve blouse in a soft cotton blend. Frill detail gives it the Per Una touch

3 Pure Cotton Short Sleeve Polo Shirts, at Marks & Spencers
This pack of easycare shirts is outstanding value. They're made from pure cotton, perfect if you prefer a natural fabric

Salsa Floating Necklace & Earrings Set, at MarksandSpencer
2 part set Hook fastening drop earrings Multi strand mixed bead necklace with adjustable length and clasp fastening

Philips HX6311 Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush, at Marks and Spencer
KidTimer: Increases brushing time slowly over 90 days, building towards the dentist recommended 2 minutes Power modes: 2 Kid-friendly power modes adapt to different ages providing a gentle cleaning that's ideal for different ages. There is a low mode for ages 4 to 6 and a high mode for ages 7 and older Brush Heads: 2 brush head sizes that are specifically designed to gently clean and protect teeth at key developmental stages KidPacer: Fun sounds encourage kids to brush the front and back of both upper and lower teeth Fun interchangeable panels: Allows kids to customise their toothbrush Anti-roll shape: Sturdy handle design allows kids to store it upright as well as apply toothpaste while the toothbrush is laying flat Multi grip design: Ergonomically designed to enable parents and kids to brush together or on their own Battery type: Li-Ion Rechargeable battery Speed: 31,000 brush strokes per minute Operating time (full to empty): Fully charged should provide 42 2-minute brushings (3 weeks) Voltage: Multi-Voltage Charger 100-240 V 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

Retro Pedal Bin, at Mark & Spencers
Contrast pedal Classic design Circular shape, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Rich Velour Stripe Hooded Top, at Marks & Spenser
Soft fabrics, fashionable designs and cute finishing touches make our babywear range outstanding. This high quality, great value hooded top is designed to keep baby looking adorable and feeling comfy and happy

Cross Over Bodyshaper Swimsuit, at Marks and Spencer
Fabulously fashionable, this stylish swimsuit shapes and smoothes your figure, giving you a flattering fit. Make a splash!

Long Beach Sweetie Necklace, at Marks and Spencer
Assorted beads Long length Clasp fastening Necklace length: 101cm

Ribbon Bootie Slippers, at M+S
Treat your feet to the warm comfort of these faux fur trim slippers. They're a terrific option for lounging around the home in cosy style

Per Una 3/4 Sleeve Beaded Neckline Cardigan, at Marks and Spencer
An elegant 3/4 sleeve cardigan featuring a beaded neckline and assorted button fastening

Marks & Spensers may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Home 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 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 Home 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 (Home 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&Spencer insurance products in document format too.