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 & Spencers, through its Marks & Spencer 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.

Besides M & S Motor Insurance, Marks & Spencer Money Credit Cards and other financial products, Marks & Spencer Money Buildings & Contents 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 & Spencer 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 Spenser purchases are also protected while you take them home.

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

Marks & Spencer Money Insurance: There are, quite literally, hundreds of companies in the UK from whom you can purchase insurance. Whether you're looking for the best deal on Motor Insurance, buildings and contents insurance, or even wedding insurance, it doesn't take long to find a company that will sell you a policy.

However, not all insurance companies, and certainly not all insurance policies, are the same. What may be standard on one insurance policy may be an optional extra on another, for instance; Motor Insurance and Buildings & Contents Insurance are especially like this.

For example, most home and contents insurance policies either ask you to provide the total cost of rebuilding your home plus the total value of your home contents, or they will set an upper limit. This may seem fine at the time, but, in the event of a claim on your Buildings & Contents Insurance policy, the values act as maximum limits, and so you may, in effect, be under-insured and not receive the full value of your insurance claim.

Fortunately, Marks & Spencer Money Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.

Artificial Exotic Argumentum & Vase, at Marks & Spencer
Artificial exotic argumentum with short stem Presented in clear and frosted glass Square vase Stone effect Diameter: 51cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Milan Chrome Tumbler, at Marks & Spenser
Chrome H7 x W10.6 x L11.3cm Glass tumbler, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Hannah Montana Range A4 Document Wallet, at Marks & Spencers
1 document wallet Approx size: 213 x 299mm Disney

Machine Washable Flat Front Stripe Trousers, at Marks & Spenser
aspirational copy

Heart Lined Moccasin Slippers, at Marks and Spencers
Relax in style and comfort in these soft, hardwearing moccasin slippers featuring heart print lining. Machine washable for added convenience

Gold Plated Mosaic Leaf necklace & Earrings Set, at Marks and Spencer
2 part set Hook fastening mosaic drop earrings Mosaic leaf pendant

Leather Tassel Shoulder Bag, at Mark's & Spencer
Stylish and practical, this handbag is made from luxurious hardwearing leather. A useful and fashionable accessory

Collezione Luxury Leather Messenger Bag, at Marks and 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

Radial Brush, at Marks and Spencers
This wooden radial hairbrush is filled with the rounded pins protect your scalp and make it ideal for styling and smoothing your hair

Valentine's Day Tissue Pack with Stickers, at Marks & Spenser
Contains: 3 sheets tissue and 10 stickers Approx size: each sheet 500 x 700mm

Leather Lace Up Tramline Shoes, at Marks&Spencer
Square toe Stitch detail Lace up Tramline design Block heel

Handcrafted 3D Butterfly Mother's Day Card, at MarksandSpencer
Cover text: With love on Mother's Day Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: Unfolded: 150 x 150mm

Winter Weight Pure Cotton Flat Front Twill Trousers, at Marks & Spenser
The perfect choice for colder days, these smart trousers are made from warm, hardwearing fabric

5 Cool & Fresh Cotton Rich Assorted Briefs, at Marks and Spencer
Made from soft breathable cotton, these comfy briefs are ideal for everyday wear

3 Modal Blend Long Sleeve Assorted Tops, at Marks and Spencers
Stock up on essentials for less! This great value pack of 3 tops is comfortable, practical, fashionable and easycare

Sony Bravia 46" KDL-46Z4500 HD Ready LCD TV, at Marks and Spenser
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 LCD, 10 bit panel, 6.2 Mega Pixels, Picture Mode: 14:9 Mode, 4:3 Mode, Screen Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Contrast ratios: Dynamic contrast 80000:1 Integrated Digital and Cable Tuners: Provides access to all Freeview™ terrestrial digital channels and radio stations (subject to coverage in your area) and is cable TV ready (with supported operators only Dimensions: W114 x H79 x D30.7cm (including table top stand) Weight: 34.5kg (including table top stand) Surround Sound Effect: Experience the effect of digital surround sound from only two front speakers with our advanced S-Force Front Surround technology Connectors: Digital audio output (optical), 3 x HDMI™ Inputs, PC Input (15pin D-Sub) + Audio In, 1 x Component Inputs, Composite Video In, 4 Pin (Y/C) In (S Video), USB 2.0 Input, MiniJack (Head/Earphone), PCMCIA Card Slot, RCA Audio Out, 3 x RCA AV Input, RF In, 2 x Scart Inputs (RGB), BRAVIA Sync, DLNA Ethernet (Music/Photo), Digital Media Port BRAVIA Engine 2: Experience incredibly clear and defined images with BRAVIA ENGINE 2 picture enhancement technology and Advanced Contrast Enhancer Live Colour Creation with x.v.Colour: Uses a larger colour palette to produce vibrant colour the way nature intended it to be seen Motionflow 200Hz: Adds 3 new frames to every fast moving scene, creating sharp, smooth images. Motionflow works by multiplying the number of frames you see on screen. New ones are inserted into fast-moving sequences, like the flight of a ball, to smooth out the motion. Motionflow predicts motion in all directions and cleverly creates brand new pictures based on this information 24p True Cinema: Shows images at 24 frames per second just like a real cinema screen Xcross Media Bar: No more confusing menu screens thanks to our easy-to-navigate XrossMediaBar™ to browse all your TV functions Picture Frame Mode: When you are not watching TV, turn it into a digital picture frame with Picture Frame Mode. Fill the black hole in your living room by using your TV to display your own pictures or the 6 pre-installed images BRAVIA Theatre Sync: Control your entire home cinema set-up with just one click on the TV remote and access the menus on compatible peripheral devices such as Handycam camcorders thanks to BRAVIA Sync 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 Please Note: To receive the full range of Freeview™ channels, customers should use an outdoor wide band aerial. Suitable portable TV aerials can be used to receive Freeview but the quality of the reception is dependent on the quality of the product and the signal area. Due to these factors you may not receive all Freeview channels when using an indoor aerial Please Note: Freeview™ is not yet available to the whole of the UK. We advise that you check that your postcode area can receive the Freeview signal before ordering this product Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Signature Large Filled Glass Candle, at Marks and Spencer
Fill your home with the tangy and oriental scent of grapefruit and ginger with this beautifully scented candle

4 Glass Coasters, at Marks and Spencer
Pack of 4 Solid glass Square shape, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Marlow Triple Wardrobe, at Marks & Spencer
H182 x W137 x D52cm With 1 hanging rail and 3 shelves Crafted predominantly from solid pine and fibreboard Assembled for you in the home This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy this wardrobe as part of a set. Click here to view the Marlow Collection Set. Click here to view the internal layout of this furniture, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Straight Leg Multi Pocket Jeans, at Marks & Spencers
Multi pocket styling gives these jeans a modern twist. A practical and fashionable style

Patent Leather Tab Purse, at Marks and Spencer
This stylish purse is made from real leather with reinforced stitching and a secure popper fastening. A high quality and chic essential

Bubbles Bud Vase, at M&S
This hand made bubble bud vase is an ideal way to add a bit of colour and elegance to any bare space in your home

Fenton Love Seat, at Marks & Spenser
H90 x W132 x D103cm Seat H51cm (all dimensions are approximate) 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 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 Includes 2 free matching bolsters 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

Chocolate Stars & Numbers Birthday Cake, at Marks and Spencer
25 portions Chocolate cake: a rich chocolate cake filled with milk chocolate ganache. Chocolate cakes can be eaten up to 5 days after collection Cake Diam 22.5cm 1.6kg total weight 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

Autograph Leather Stud Pumps, at M&S
Round toe Stud toe feature Slip on Heel height: 15mm

Stain Defence™ & Stormwear™ Pleated School Skirt, at Marks and Spencers
This innovative skirt is treated with Stain Defence™ and Stormwear™ finishes which help repel water and everyday stains. The adjustable waist gives a perfectly comfortable fit for longer. Permanent pleats keep it looking smart

3 Pairs of Fine Merino Blend Socks, at Marks & Spenser
Wool blend yarn makes these socks soft, breathable and absorbent to keep feet warm, dry and comfy

Birthday Text Roll Wrap, at MarksandSpencer
Pack contains: 1 roll wrap 'Happy birthday to you' text Approx size: 150 x 70cm

Lucky Wedding Horseshoe, at Marks&Spencer
1x horseshoe Diameter: 130mm

Autograph Multi Stripe Long Sleeve Jumper, at Marks & Spencer
Fashionable and contemporary, this multi stripe jumper is part of our exclusive Autograph collection. A great design, superior fabric and careful attention to detail makes it exceptionally stylish and comfortable

There are lots of ways to save money using Marks & Spencer Money. Not least of these is Marks and Spencer Standard Motor Insurance. With Marks & Spencer 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 & Spencer 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 & Spencers, 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 M+S Money, you get more, and you pay less.