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

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Finance. Not least of these is Marks & Spencers Standard Car Insurance. With M&S Finance 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 Finance, which also has other features.

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

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 & 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 Mark & Spencers, through its M&S Finance 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.

Leather Jeans Belt, at Marks & Spencer
Add a fashionable finishing touch to your casual trousers and jeans with this stylish leather belt

Pure Cotton Hooded Sweat Top, at Marks and Spencers
Casual and comfortable, this hooded top is made from pure cotton. A fashionable easycare style, ideal for PE

Limited Stripe Hat Scarf and Glove Set, at Marks and Spencer
Fashionable and colourful, this hat, scarf and glove set is perfect for chilly days

Chunky Link Skinny Chain Belt, at Marks & Spencer
Dress up your fashionable outfits with this smart chunky link chain belt

Real Cool Cotton™ Performance Contrast Pipe Detail Stretch Joggers, at Marks & Spencer
Perfect for active wear, these Real Cool Cotton™ Performance joggers are made from high-performance breathable stretch fabric. They're designed in the latest style for a great fit and essential ease of movement

Fine Chenille Throw, at Mark & Spencers
Small: W150 x L200cm Large: W230 x L240cm Multi purpose with fringed edges Comes in large or small sizes, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Photographic Jug of Flowers Nan Birthday Card, at Mark's & Spencer
Cover text: Nan Happy Birthday Inside message: Have a lovely birthday Approx size: Unfolded: 178 x 126mm

Per Una Cotton Rich Bootleg Jeans, at Marks and Spenser
A smart pair of bootleg jeans in stretch cotton featuring twin front and rear pockets

Autograph Styled Scratchy Spot High Leg Knickers, at Marks and Spenser
Glamorous and sophisticated these flattering briefs feature scratchy spot print. The modern low rise, high leg styling gives a flattering shapely fit. Beautiful exclusive lingerie

The Floral Collection Magnolia Soap, at Marks and Spencer
3 x 75g Magnolia scented Added moisturisers

New Pad Frog Change of Address Pack of Ten Cards, at Marks & Spenser
Cover text: New Pad Pack contains: 10 cards Dimensions: 130 x 130mm

Contrast Panel Padded Jacket with Stormwear™, at Marks & Spenser
Comfy and practical, this padded jacket is outstanding value. An easycare style at a great price

Hello Kitty Velour Joggers, at Marks & Spenser
Fans of Hello Kitty will love these cotton blend joggers featuring the popular character. A practical, easycare style

Suede Tramline Shoes, at Marks&Spencer
Square toe Tramline feature Stitch detail Lace up Flat

Body Formula Moisture Rich Bath & Shower Cream, at Marks and Spenser
Olive oil to soften and nourish Ginger and cardamom to soothe, warm and energise Glycerin to hydrate Suitable for all skin types 200ml

Pure Cotton Multi Stripe Hooded Cardigan, at Mark & Spencers
The fun multi stripe design makes this hooded cardigan extra special. The soft cotton knit will keep him warm and comfy

Barton Armchair, at Marks & Spencer
H85 x W102 x D90cm 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 Feet are castors with antique-brass effect 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 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

10 Allium Floral Thank You Cards, at M & S
Cover text: Thank you Inside message: blank for your own message 10 cards, 1 design Approx size: 120 x 120mm

Cut Flowers Refresher & Burner Oil, at Marks and Spencers
Floral scent 15ml, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Damask Jaquard Table Runner, at Marks & Spenser
Damask design Jaquard detail Dimensions: 33cm x 230cm Think climate! This can be washed effectively at 30C, find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Animal Alphabet A5 Notebook, at M & S
1 notebook with lined and perforated pages Tiger print Approx size: 213 x 152mm

Crow's Fountain Shiraz Merlot Pinotage 2007 - Case of 12, at Marks and Spencers
Style: Medium bodied Grape variety: Shiraz, Merlot & Pinotage Country of origin: South Africa Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 14% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.5 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.8 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Vriesenhof Kallista 2003 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spencer
Style: Medium Bodied Grape variety: 35% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon Country of origin: South Africa Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians and vegans Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 14% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.5 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.8 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Nudes Plain Underwired Bra, at Marks & Spensers
Every woman needs underwear that looks invisible under clothing. Everyone's skin tone is different, so after some research into skin tones we've come up with Body Nudes, a range of flattering shades to suit everyone. Body Nudes is soft and comfy with no visible lumps or bumps, so you can be sure your clothes will look their best

Spitfire Theme Cufflinks, at Marks and Spencers
A smart finishing touch at a great price

Pure Linen Palm Border Print Skirt, at Marks and Spencer
Fashionable and contemporary, this linen skirt is a look you'll love. A versatile, easywear look

Crossover Strap Sandals, at Marks and Spencer
Crossover straps Stitch detail

Collezione Long Sleeve Herringbone Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
Italian style is renowned for its attention to detail. Each collezione piece is designed with that same passion, using the finest fabrics and best tailoring techniques. Inspired by Italian flair, we've lavished time and care on this shirt to give you a feeling of luxury like no other

Younger Girls' Floral Buckle Belt, at Marks and Spencer
Fun and fashionable, this floral buckle belt adds a stylish finishing touch

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

M&S Finance 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 Car 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; Car Insurance and Buildings 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 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, M&S Finance Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.