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 n 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 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 Home 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 Marks and Spenser 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 Home 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 and Spencer, 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.

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 and 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 M+S 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 M+S Money Home Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

Limited Collection Rio Cluster Pendant Necklace, at Marks & Spensers
Clasp fastening Adjustable length Rio cluster pendant Necklace length 84cm, extendable by 8cm

Emily Chair, at Marks & Spencers
H100 x W80 x D103cm Seat H40cm, arm H53cm Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Back cushions made from fixed foam Solid birch feet with a natural finish 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 All of our fabrics are treated with Stain-Defence& trade; - 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 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 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Footglove™ Widefit Round Toe Pumps, at Mark & Spensers
Round toe Stitch detail Slip-on Flat sole Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

My First Wooden Xylophone, at Marks and Spenser
Suitable for ages 1-3 years Includes xylophone and two mallets This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Riptape Stitch Sandals, at Marks & Spencers
Fashionable and comfortable, these lightweight leather sandals make a great choice for relaxed style in the sun, at home or on holiday

Contrast Brim Straw Trilby, at Marks and Spenser
Keep your cool in this straw sun hat, a summer and holiday essential

Per Una Wide Leg Bow Waist Trousers, at Marks & Spensers
A smart pair of wide leg trousers in a soft stretch fabric featuring a bow design on the waistband

Pure Cotton Sleeveless Broderie Vest, at M&S
A broderie design makes this soft cotton vest top fabulously fashionable

Light Control Lace High Waist Shorts, at M&S
Look slimmer in seconds! These light control high waist shorts gently flatten tummies for a sleeker, slimmer silhouette

Pure Chronos II DAB & FM Clock Radio, at Marks and Spenser
Frequency ranges: DAB Band III 174-240 MHz, DAB L-Band 1452-1491 MHz and FM 87.5-108 MHz Speaker: Full-range 2" drive unit. 1.7W RMS amplifier. Active speaker equalization filter Input connectors: 5.5V DC power adaptor socket (230V supplied). Mini USB connector for product upgrades Output connectors: 3.5mm stereo output for headphones Controls: Power on/standby, volume +/-, snooze, menu, DAB/FM, sleep, alarm, preset, tune/select, select +/- LCD display: LCD display with 16x2 characters. Features auto-dimming backlight Mains power supply: 230V AC to 5.5V DC external power adapter Dimensions: H6 x W19 x D17cm Aerial: Wire aerial attached Alarm: Four independent alarm settings, with wake to tone, DAB, FM or CD options Light sensor: Light sensor automatically adjusts the display brightness to suit the light levels in your room Intellitext: Browse stored scrolling text at your convenience. Intellitext is available from participating stations Text scan: Pause and control scrolling text 20 Presets: 10 DAB and 10 FM RDS: RDS support for station name display on FM and RDS scrolling text USB: USB Add new features as they become available via USB 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

8 Cup Floral Print Cafetiere, at M&S
Metallic frame and lid 8 cup capacity Floral print, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Shirt & Stripe T-Shirt Set, at Marks & Spensers
This fashionable layered look is a 2 piece set - a short sleeve shirt and a long sleeve stripe t-shirt both in soft comfortable cotton fabric. Stylish, practical and easycare

Pleated Slim Leg Peg Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
Slim and stylish, these peg trousers are cut to fit and flatter for a sleek modern look. Added stretch gives the perfect fit.

Classic Collection Neck Tie Stripe Top, at Marks and Spencer
Modern and stylish, this versatile top is made from soft easycare fabric and features a pretty stripe design. A fashionable style with a comfortable, flattering fit

Hoppy Birthday Frog Age 3 Birthday Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: Hoppy birthday! Inside message: Have a great day This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Antique Brass 3-Arm Ceiling Light, at Marks & Spenser
Antique brass Frosted glass shades 3 curved arms H42 x Diam 40cm Bulb: 3 x 40W SES golf ball This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Milan Towel Rack, at Mark & Spencers
Double tier towel rail Square detail Chrome Towel rail dimensions: W49.6 x H7 x L12.87cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Single Breasted Water Repellent Mac, at Marks and Spencer
Fashionable and practical, the mid calf length mac is a wardrobe essential this season. This version in a water resistant easycare fabric features a modern buckle belt

Blue Harbour Pure Cotton Tram Stripe Poplin Shirt, at Marks and Spencers
Relaxed and stylish, this tram stripe poplin shirt is made from pure cotton so it feels soft and comfortable to wear

Pure ChargePAK B1 Rechargeable Battery Pack, at M&S
Replaces the need for alkaline batteries Easy to install - can be fitted in seconds Charges inside the radio, no separate charging unit required Increased battery life per charge over standard rechargeable batteries Provides up to 20 hours wireless listening Specification: lithium-ion 3.7V 4200mAh. Compatible with Pure ONE Mini 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 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

Nifty at 50 Dotty Dave Card, at Marks and Spencers
Cover text: Nifty at 50 Inside message: Happy Birthday This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 178 x 125mm

Autograph Weekend Block Stripe Cardigan, at M&S
Part of Autograph Weekend's Sloane trend. Casual yet sophisticated, this is weekend dressing at its most stylish. Featuring a cool colour palette of crisp navy, neutrals and red, this is an effortlessly chic look for the new season

Per Una Long Sleeve Crochet Scarf Cardigan, at Marks and Spencer
A casual long sleeve cardigan in textured fabric featuring a crochet knitted scarf

Leather Lace-Up Moccasins, at Marks & Spensers
Lace-up Contrast stitching Flat sole Higher prices applied online for at least 28 days prior to 23 April 2009 and were subject to a 30% discount from 23 April to 22 July 2009

Dress Up Best Friends Activity Book, at M&S
Open this book and find four new friends inside, all waiting to meet you. Choose stickers to dress them in gorgeous clothes and fun accessories and join in with plenty of giggly, girly fun! With over 300 stickers and extra activities, little girls will love this Dolly dressing sticker book

Spot Fishnet Tights, at Marks and Spencers
Add a stylish touch of chic with this head-turning spot fishnet design

Pure Wool Shaggy Rug, at Marks and Spencers
Rectangular shape Shaggy Plain, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

7 Pairs of Freshfeet Socks with Silver Technology, at Marks and Spencer
Our odour control Freshfeet socks are now better than ever with a new Sanitised Silver finish. Known for its natural antibacterial properties, silver helps reduce the presence of bacteria that causes smelly odours, so your feet stay fresh with every step and it keeps working for the lifetime of the socks

Freshfeet Check Design Slippers, at Marks and Spencer
Round toe Check design Tartan style lining pattern Chunky sole Slip-on With built in Freshtech™ technology for fresh, odour-free slippers Freshtech™ technology combats the bacteria that causes bad smells and odours Freshtech™ technology is permanently built in to the slipper and still performs after many washes

Samsung 55'' LE55B650 TV HD Ready LCD Crystal TV™, at Marks & Spencer
HD Ready 1080p: Displays images in Full HD 1080p, the maximum resolution defined for HDTV use, when connected to an HD compatible device Display: 55 inch LCD screen, 1920 x 1080 resolution Dynamic contrast ratio: Ultra Contrast Integrated Digital Tuner: Provides access to all Freeview™ terrestrial digital channels and radio stations (subject to coverage in your area) Dimensions: W131 x D30.8 x H89.4cm (with stand), W131 x D7.9 x H84.1cm (without stand) Weight: 37.2kg (with stand), 28.8kg (without stand) SRS TruSurround HD: SRS Trusurround HD & Dolby Digital Plus Connectors: 3 x HDMI , 2 x scart, 1 x RF Input, 1 x component, 1 x PC input, 1 x digital audio (Optical), Headphone jack 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 Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

When you're shopping at MarksandSpencer 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 Home Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at M+S 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."