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 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 M&S 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 Marks & Spensers, 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.

M+S 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 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 Money Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.

Limited Collection Pure Cotton Pintuck Blouse, at Marks and Spencers
Part of Limited Collection's LA Love trend. Feminine, soft and laid back, this is a fashionable LA look with a boho vibe. Beautiful fabrics and playful prints are key

Mixed Bead Rope Necklace, at Marks and Spencers
Long length Mixed beads Clasp fastening Necklace length: 98cm

Autograph Cotton Rich Swimming Shorts, at M&S
Casual and contemporary, these swimming shorts are part of our exclusive Autograph collection. A great design, superior fabric and careful attention to detail make them exceptionally stylish and comfortable

Sonoma Dark 2-Drawer Sideboard, at Marks & Spencer
H88 x W123 x D50cm 2 drawers 1 adjustable shelf Made from solid oak and oak veneer Features natural wood characteristics - knots, figuring, colour variation and end-grain detail Finished with a rich dark stain, followed by 2 coats of durable, clear lacquer of low sheen Drawer boxes and fronts made from solid hardwood. Drawer bottoms made from White Oak veneer Legs made from solid hardwood Door frames made from solid wood. Door panels made from White Oak veneer Handles made from solid wood Side panels and back panels made from White Oak veneer Top panels made from White Oak veneer with a solid Oak edging for strength All joints are glued and pressed together in the factory, giving more inherent strength than flat pack fittings Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item Why use veneers? Unlike solid timber, veneer does not twist/warp/split to the same degree. Only the finest logs are used in veneer production. It is environmentally sound and traditional - much of the finest cabinetry in the world is veneered. Care & Cleaning - Wipe with a soft clean cloth and use a mild furniture cleaner or polish occasionally. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions, and be aware that polishes can add sheen. This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy this sideboard as part of a set. Click here to view the Dark Sonoma Collection Set. , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Square Table Lamp, at Marks & Spencer
Square shade Satin-nickle finish square base Dimensions: H46 x W18 x D18cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Dyson DC25 Animal Vacuum Cleaner, at Marks & Spencer
Mini turbine head: Cleans pet hair and dirt from confined spaces such as upholstery, stairs and the car Ball™ technology: Steers smoothly with a turn of the wrist Root Cyclone™ technology: Patented technology that doesn't lose suction power as you vacuum Motorised brush bar: Powerful bristles remove dirt and pet hair from carpets. Turns off to protect delicate rugs and hard floors Washable HEPA filter: Clean expelled air. Ideal for allergy sufferers Telescope Reach™ wand: Wand and hose extend for high reach and stair cleaning while the vacuum remains upright and stable Bin capacity: 1.3 litres Weight: 7.4kg Suction power: 220 AW (constant) Cord length: 7.5 metres Max reach: 12.3 metres Dimensions: W392 x H1071 x D310 Includes: Combination tool, mini turbine head, stair tool, operations manual and quick start guide 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 Free 2 year guarantee, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Vertical Stripe Shirt, at Mark's & Spencer
This fab long sleeve shirt features a stunning vertical stripe design. A sophisticated new look, perfect for this season

Collezione Round Face Watch, at Marks and Spenser
Round face Analogue time display Numeric style Buckle fastening Mock crocodile skin strap

Bamboo Collection Salad Bowl, at Marks & Spencers
Turned wooden design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Rich Stripe Vest, at Marks & Spencers
Pretty and feminine, this strappy vest features a stunning lace trim. The soft stretch cotton fabric gives a comfortable flattering fit

Faux Pearl Stud Earrings, at Marks and Spencers
Butterfly stud fastening Faux pearl design For hygiene reasons, refunds will only be given in accordance with your legal rights

Limited Collection Sleeveless Frill Front Blouse, at M&S
Get the latest look in this trend-conscious sleeveless blouse featuring a frill front detail

Autograph Milan Double Towel Rail, at Marks & Spencer
Double towel rail H7 x W49.6 x D12.87cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Percy Pig Cushion, at Marks and Spencer
Percy pig design Round shape Matching items available Diam 35cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Combat Trousers with Belt, at Marks and Spencer
Relaxed and comfortable, these combat trousers in pure soft cotton features multiple pockets. A practical easycare style

Slim Leg Side Zip Trousers, at Marks & Spencer
Slim and stylish, these side zip trousers are cut to fit and flatter for a sleek modern look. Added stretch gives the perfect fit

Bob The Builder: Sing-Along Song Book, at Marks & Spencers
Children will love pressing the button and singing along to Bob The Builder with this illustrated song book

Samsung 19'' LE19B450 HD Ready LCD TV, at M+S
HD Ready: This TV is able to display sharper, clearer and more vibrant High Definition images when connected to an HD compatible device Display: 19" Widescreen LCD TV, 1366 x 768 resolution Contrast Ratios: 5000:1 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: W477.1 x H65.5 x D326.9mm (without stand) W477.1 x D180.2 x H374mm (with stand) Weight: 4.8kg (with stand), 4.2kg (without stand) SRS TruSurround HD: For enhanced surround sound effect Connectors: 1 x HDMI, 1 x composite (AV), 1 x PC input (D-sub), 1 x RF input, 1x headphone, 1x scart DNIe+ Technology: The Digital Natural Image Engine produces images with incredible depth and density. Advanced contrast and detail enhancers combine to produce deeper richer lifelike colours Wide Colour Enhancer 2: Primary colours are strengthened to increase depth and intensity to show pictures in all their natural beauty Clear Panel Prevents glare to keep images clean and clear 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: 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 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 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more Use wall mount

Stainless Steel 6 Sided Grater, at Mark & Spensers
6 different cuts H22cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Silk Micro Square Tie, at M&S
Add a luxurious finishing touch with this smart micro square tie in pure silk

Autograph Cherry Blossom Small Jewellery Box, at Marks and Spencer
3 drawers Cherry blossom design Mirror finish

125 Years Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Check Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Part of the Commemorative Collection, celebrating 125 years of M&S. Featuring smart styles inspired by our archives

Traditional Bamboo Handle Umbrella, at Marks & Spencers
A traditional men's umbrella with a traditional bamboo handle for those who want some luxury in their life, it has gilt metal trim on the ferrule and bottom of the handle, suitable for everyday use

Pure Cotton Button Detail Bootleg Trousers, at Marks&Spencer
Designed to give a shapely silhouette, these on-the-waist bootcuts are feminine and flattering. A look that's always in style

Leona Lewis - Spirit CD, at Mark & Spencers
Audio CD, Marks & Spencer

Limited Collection Sequin Sleeve Tunic, at Marks & Spensers
Part of Limited Collection's London Crowd trend. A quintessentially English look featuring quirky prints in monochrome with bright pops of colour. Kitsch styling and playful designs give this trend a fun London feel

Per Una 3/4 Sleeve Shimmer Dolly Cardigan, at Marks & Spensers
A shimmering 3/4 sleeve cardigan in a soft knitted fabric featuring a decorative button

Gold Label Chardonnay 2008 - Case of 12, at Marks & Spenser
Style: Dry Grape variety: Chardonnay Country of origin: France Closure: Synthetic closure Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 12.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.4 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

Dualit Vario 6 Slot Toaster - Chrome, at Marks & Spencer
Hand built in England - as identified by the individual assembler's mark on the base plate Designed for use in commercial kitchens Patented, award-winning ProHeat elements Mechanical timer to control toasting Capacity 2, 4 or 6 slices Manually operated eject lever to keep items warm until needed Selector switch - use only the slots required Adjustable inner wire guard to grip toast Replaceable/ repairable parts Easy cleaning with a stainless steel cover High lift mechanism to remove small items easily Extra wide 28mm slots to accommodate larger items and the optional sandwich cage Concealed crumb tray Adjustable rear foot Dimensions: W46 x H21 x D22cm Weight: 5.1kg 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

Pure Linen Pintuck Bib Dress, at Mark's & Spencer
This fresh fashionable dress in cool pure linen is beautifully styled and detailed with pintucked bib feature

M+S Money offers a variety of financial and insurance products, but Car Insurance is something that almost everyone needs - at least if you own a car. Unfortunately there are so many companies offering Car Insurance today that, after a while, one policy may begin to look much like the next.

Thinking that most Car Insurance policies are much the same is usually a bad idea. At worst it can be a very expensive mistake - this is when you find out that your Car Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Car Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately M+S Money Car Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Car Insurance to the competition then it stacks up quite nicely.

For example, here are just some of the options which come as standard with M&S 5 Star Premier cover Car Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Car Insurance plans from companies such as Direct Line, Sainsbury's, or Tesco Direct:

• Personal UK and European Breakdown Cover automatically included
• Comprehensive cover for trips abroad in the European Union - up to 90 days per trip
• Courtesy car during approved repairs automatically included
• Cover for Motor Legal Protection automatically included

So, it is clear that, besides being good value, M&S Car Insurance also provides much more extensive cover than some of the top competitors. Additionally, you don't even need to be behind the wheel to benefit from M+S Money UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.