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

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 & Spencers 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 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.

Shopping for financial products at M&S Money UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the M&S 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 Motor Insurance, M&S Buildings & Contents 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 & 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.

M&S Nevada 3 Man Tent, at Marks and Spencer
2 - 3 man tent Suitable for year round use Easy to setup Taped seams Weather protected porch for storage or cooking Ventilated outer flysheet 3 inner tent pockets Zip fastening Mesh door Made from fire retardant materials Water repellent: 3000 hydrostic head 7.9mm fibre glass poles Breathable inner tent Dimensions of sleeping area: H120 x W205 x L205cm Storage area: 1.24m sq Carry case

Laser Cut Rose Birthday Card, at Mark & Spencers
Cover text: With love on your special day Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Cashmilon™ Long Sleeve Turtle Neck Jumper, at Marks & Spensers
Fashionable and flattering, this turtle neck jumper is made from supersoft cashmilon™ and features a turtle neck.

Satin Spot Print Shirt with Belt, at Marks and Spencers
This fab short sleeve shirt features a stunning spot and empire line design. A sophisticated new look, perfect for this season

Leather Plait Belt, at Marks & Spencers
This leather plait belt is ideal for wearing with casual styles

Pearl Effect Multi Strand Necklace, at Mark & Spencers
Pearl effect beads Diamant detail Multi strand design

Cotton Rich Stripe Scarf, at Marks and Spencer
Keep out the cold in style with this warm, soft scarf

2 Pairs of Thomas the Tank Engine Socks, at MarksandSpencer
A must for fans of Thomas the Tank Engine, these comfy socks are definitely cool enough to wear around town

Kitchen Classic Tap, at Marks and Spencers
H35 x W27.5cm 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

Ratatouille DVD, at Marks & Spenser
Rating Universal, suitable for all,

Silver Plated Diamanté Long Necklace, at Mark & Spensers
Mixed beads Long length Diamant detail

Tiny Fairies Mum Birthday Card, at Marks n Spencer
Cover text: A perfect Mum like you Inside message: ...deserves a perfect birthday that's full of fun and laughter xx Approx size: Unfolded: 150 x 215mm

Older Boys' Blue Water Sharks Flip Flops, at Marks & Spencer
Flat sole 'Blue Water Sharks' design Contrast stripe

My First Rattle & Teether, at Marks & Spencer
Every baby needs a teether to soothe them as they grow. This brightly coloured key ring features 3 fun 'keys'; A for apple, B for bee and C for car! The 'keys' are textured for interest and variety and the key ring features a safe hook and loop attachment to secure the toy to a pram or highchair. With a fun melody and 'beep beep' noise at the press of a button, your child is sure to love this exclusive toy!

Compton Side Table, at Marks & Spensers
1 drawer Crafted from oak and oak veneer H57 x W57 x D50cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Classic Collection Pull-On Jeans, at Marks and Spencer
Perfect for a host of formal occasions, achieve an elegant look in these smart trousers. Featuring a straight leg cut and belt detail, just add a sleek top and courts to create a simply stunning silhouette

Freshfeet Quilt Lined Mule Slippers, at Mark & Spensers
Round toe Quilt lined Flat sole Slip-on With built in Freshtech™ technology for fresh, odour-free slippers Freshtech™ technology is permanently built in to the slipper and still performs after many washes Freshtech™ technology combats the bacteria that causes bad smells and odours

Pretty Floral Pumps Birthday Card, at Mark's & Spencer
Cover text: Birthday Wishes Fancy Feet Inside message: Blank for your own message This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 150 x 150mm

M&S Table Top Electric Can Opener, at Marks & Spenser
60 watt Opens all sizes of cans Lid-retaining magnet for safe disposal Cord storage White and stainless steel finish, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Diamanté Square Photo Frame 13 x 18cm (5 x 7"), at Mark & Spensers
Rectanglular Aperture 5 x 7in H13 x 18cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Rich Short Sleeve Criss Cross Print Top, at Mark & Spencers
This fabulous short sleeve top features a stunning criss cross design. A vibrant new look, perfect for this season

Signature Natural Cotton Scented Candle, at Marks & Spenser
Glass holder Natural cotton fragrance Burns up to 40 hours, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Collezione Oxford Dress Shoe, at Marks and Spenser
Round toe Lace up Stitch detail Block heel

Classic Duckling & Bear Record Book, at Mark & Spencers
Contains: 1 record book Approx size: 285 x 220mm

Artificial Orchid Spray in Ceramic Bowl, at Marks & Spencers
Artificial orchid Ceramic bowl H75cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Romerol Rioja Crianza 2005 - Case of 12, at Marks and Spencers
Style: Medium bodied Grape variety: Tempranillo Country of origin: Spain 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

Limited Collection Cotton Rich Rio Square Scarf with Silk, at Marks & Spencer
Add a contemporary twist to your look with this rio square scarf. The perfect accessory to complement this season's styles

Classic Collection Pure Cotton Swirl Neck Top, at Mark's & Spencer
Modern and stylish, this versatile top is made from soft easycare fabric and features a swirl neckline design. A fashionable style with a comfortable, flattering fit

Ashbourne Armchair, at Marks & Spencers
H99 x W114 x D104cm Seat H49cm, arm H65, top back rail H75cm Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Other cushions filled with polyester fibre. Gives a soft sit with a lived-in look, which will soften and relax even further with use. Fibre is sewn into channels within the interior to prevent settlement in one area of the cushion Fabric options feature reversible seat 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 service: 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 that fabric upholstery due to the nature of the material, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Mixed Bohemian Bead Rope Necklace, at Mark & Spensers
Rope necklace Mixed bead design Length: 84cm

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."