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 Marks and Spencer, through its M&S Money Direct website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Household Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

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

When you're shopping at Marks and Spencers 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 Direct. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Household 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 Direct. 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 Direct, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Money Direct 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."

Blue Harbour Classic Quilted Heritage Jacket, at Marks n Spencer
A contemporary design makes this jacket a fashionable choice

Large Print Crossword Book, at M+S
There are 160 straight forward crosswords in this brand new book. Whether you have only a few moments, or hours to devote to your favourite puzzles, these crosswords will challenge and entertain you

Gold Embroidery Leather Look Slim Diary, at Marks & Spencers
Week to view Dimensions: 165 x 80mm

Footglove™ Leather Whipstitch Detail Shoes, at Marks & Spencers
Block mid-heel Whipstitch detail Slip-on Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight

Autograph Noire Eau De Toilette, at Marks & Spencer
Eau De Toilette for women 100ml This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Adored Pure Cotton Floral Embroidered Long Nightdress, at Marks n Spencer
Stylish and elegant, this flattering long nightdress is part of our feminine Adored collection. It's made from the softest fabrics for the ultimate in comfort

Pop Star Girl Age 8 Birthday Card, at Marks and Spenser
Cover text: 8...happy birthday...to a real star! Inside message: Have a great day! Approx size: 174 x 126mm

Classic Collection Straight Leg Pull On Trousers, at Mark & Spencers
Stylish and versatile, these straight leg trousers are smartly finished with a stitched crease and decorative fob. Dress them up or down with smart or casual tops in coordinating colours. Discreet elastication gives a perfect, comfortable fit.

Flora Sunglasses, at Marks and Spencer
Bold, dark and oversized, these stunning shades make a fabulous way of wearing this seasons hot trend for classic glamour

Cotton Blend Shawl Collar Longline Cardigan, at M&S
Smart and stylish, this casual longline cardigan makes the perfect light extra layer. It features shawl collar with attached pockets for a fashionable touch.

M&S Juicer, at Marks & Spenser
1 litre capacity 30 watt Removable & washable filter Transparent plastic body Cord storage Dimensions: H32cm 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

Easycare Poplin Long Sleeve Shirt, at Mark & Spencers
This easycare shirt is so easy to look after, it can be washed and worn regularly while keeping a pristine appearance

Autograph Twin Pleat Stripe Morning Trousers, at Marks & Spencers
The tailored cut of these smart trousers reveals a timeless style perfectly suited for refined formality, while twin pleats and stripes add a dash of debonair charm

Samsung J700 - Orange Pay as you Go Mobile Phone, at Marks n Spencer
Talk Time: Up to 3 hours Stand-by: Up to 250 hours Screen: 128 x 160 pixel resolution, 65,536 LCD colours, 2 inch Ringtones: 64 Polyphonic and MP3 ringtones Camera: 1.3 megapixel Dimensions: H9.9 x W4.8 x D1.4cm Weight: 92g Messaging: SMS and MMS - Combine image, video, text and voice clips and send an MMS to a compatible phone or PC Orange Pay as you Go: Your mobile service provider will be Orange. An Orange SIM card is included with this handset. Memory: Up to 10MB internal memory, MicroSD card slot Video player: Watch MP4 videos Music player: Music player with dedicated play/pause button. Plays multiple audio formats including MP3, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+ and WMA Radio: Listen to FM radio 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

Soft Vanilla Scented Candle, at Marks and Spencer
Vanilla scented Glass holder Burns up to 45 hours, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Animal Print Slab Stretch Bracelet, at M&S
Animal print design Stretch style Inner diameter: 5.5cm

Cherry Print Cap Sleeve Frill Blouse, at Marks & Spencer
This cap sleeve blouse is beautifully embellished with frill detail for a stylish modern look

5 Pairs of Older Girls' Assorted Socks, at M+S
Stock up on stylish essentials with this pack of 5 pairs of assorted socks

Plain Leather Gloves, at M&S
Luxurious, fashionable and elegant, these plain leather gloves are fully lined. This season's style at your fingertips!

Tribeca RHCNR AU09 Newness, at Marks and Spencer
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Lightweight Animal Print Sequin Scarf, at Marks & Spencers
Add a fashionable finishing touch to your look with this elegant metallised animal print scarf. The perfect accessory to this season's styles

Feather Spray Spikey Cap Headdress, at M+S
Sophisticated and glamorous, this bow and feather headdress is sure to turn heads!

Formal Chevron Button Braces, at Marks & Spenser
Add a smart finishing touch with these stylish adjustable braces

Dualit Coffee Grinder, at Marks & Spensers
Conical burr grinder for a consistent grind Removable burrs for easy cleaning Grinds at a slow 450rpm to preserve the natural coffee aroma Safety cut-out to protect against stones 13 grind settings, from coarse (percolator) to fine (espresso) Portion control grinds only what you require Large hopper holds up to 250g of beans Dimensions: 11 x 16 x 28.5cm Weight: 1.5kg This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Autograph Chunky Silver-Plated Photo Frame (5 x 7''), at Marks & Spenser
Silver plated Chunky design Dimensions: H21 x W3 x L18.5cm Aperture: 13 x 18cm (5 x 7''), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Trainer Laces Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencers
Cover Text: Happy birthday Happy birthday Inside Message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 230 x 114mm

1001 Little Ways to Look Younger, at Marks & Spensers
Anti-aging tactics and treatments for lifelong beauty

Lichfield Glass Top Coffee & Side Table Set, at M & S
Coffee Table: H40 x L86 x W86cm Side Table: H58.5 x W50 x D42.5cm Sturdy wooden undershelf Toughened glass top Made from White Oak solids and veneers Finished with 3 coats of durable, clear lacquer of mid sheen Shelves made from White Oak veneer Side panels are veneered Top panel is veneered with 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Collzione Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Stripe Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
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

12-Piece Terrace Dinner Set, at Marks and Spencer
12-piece set Includes 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates and 4 cereal bowls Smooth glazed surface Small lip on dinner and side plates Deep cereal bowls Dinner plate: Diam 29cm Side plate: Diam 21.5cm Cereal bowl: Diam 17.5cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

M&S may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Household Insurance or Motor Insurance, but Marks and Spencer do indeed offer a comprehensive selection of financial products, all of which are competitively priced, and all of which you can purchase directly from the M&S Money Direct website. With a simple, no-hassle service, you can compare features between a number of Marks & Spencers Money products and competitor's products, and sign up in just a few minutes.

Whether you're looking for savings products or M&S Money Direct loans, credit cards or Household Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, M&S Money Direct can save you both time and money, with comprehensive information available at a click.

Free insurance quotes are available online for all of M&S Money Direct insurance products (Household Insurance, Motor Insurance, Travel Insurance, Wedding Insurance and Pet Insurance), or you may call if you wish to on the telephone number provided. Suffice to say that there is also plenty of information which you can download for each of the Marks and Spencer insurance products in document format too.