When you're shopping at Marks & 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 Finance. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Buildings Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Mark's & Spencer than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from M&S Finance. 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 Finance, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Finance 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."

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

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Motor Insurance policies on offer from Marks and Spencer, 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 Direct, you get more, and you pay less.

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 Finance 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, 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.

Maxim Cup & Saucer, at Marks & Spencer
A simple yet stylish cup and saucer Versatile fine dining range Pure white porcelain Suitable for everyday use Cup height: 6cm Saucer diameter: 16cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Floral Favourites, at Marks & Spensers
A charming gift bag full of soft pink gerberas, cream roses, pretty chrysanthemums and phlox Available for delivery from 1st April to 30th September 2009

Chevron Print Scarf, at Marks & Spencer
Add a fashionable finishing touch to your look with this elegant chevron print scarf. The perfect accessory to this season's styles

The Incredible Hulk Blu-ray DVD, at Mark's & Spencer
Rating Suitable for 12 years and over,

Ruby Cereal Bowl - Black, at Marks and Spenser
Deep dish Plain centre Stripe edge Diam 16cm Fine china, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Nature du Rhône 2007, Côtes du Rhône - Case of 12, at Marks & Spencer
Style: Dry, medium bodied Country of origin: France Grape variety: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians and vegans 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

Travel Essentials Cosmetic Cool Bag, at Marks & Spencer
Zip fastening Plain Contrast piping Rectangular Insulated lining

Ascensio Hard Small Rollercase, at Marks & Spensers
Built for durable practicality, this small rollercase features a robust ABS outer shell and locking trolley system to ensure your belongings are safely secure and easy to transport

2 Machine Washable Zeus Ties, at Marks&Spencer
Smart style at a great price! This pack of 2 ties is outstanding value. They're machine washable, so you save on cleaning too

Autograph Addison Display Unit, at Marks and Spencers
H179 x W120 x D35cm With 5 shelves Made from American Black Walnut solids and veneers, with Beech veneer on unseen faces Finished with 2 coats of durable, clear lacquer of mid sheen 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

Twin Pleat Crease Resistant Trousers, at Marks n Spencer
Adopt a fuss-free approach to formal dressing with the crease resistant fabric of these sharp trousers, allowing you to stay looking smarter for longer

Club Chair, at Marks & Spencers
H91 x W80 x D103cm Seat H47cm, arm H57cm (all dimensions are approximate) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Back cushion made from fixed foam 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 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

Blue Harbour Pure Cotton Mini Check Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
Stay cool during the summer season with this short sleeve shirt. It's made from soft cotton and features a mini check design

Watercolour Floral Print Bikini Top, at Marks and Spencer
Stylish and elegant, this fashionable bikini top features a striking floral print. A fabulous fashionable look

Single Sprung-Edge Divan with 1 Small + 1 Large Drawers & F400 Coolmax® Pocket Memory Foam Mattress, at Marks & Spencer
Single mattress (3ft): W90 x L190cm Single divan (3ft): W90 x L190cm Mattress depth: 24cm Divan height: 41cm Large drawer: H14 x W78 x D52cm Small drawer: H14 x W40 x D52cm Individually pocketed springs Mattress features a layer of resilient foam and memory foam, and also polyester fibre Mattress has foam layers to encourage air circulation Two rows of hand side-stitching give edge-to-edge support on the mattress Quality Belgian fabric for added durability Coolmax stretch knit cover helps regulate body temperature and adds a soft feel to the mattress Memory foam moulds to the shape of your body once warmed by body heat providing high levels of support Pocket sprung mattresses give a flexible feel All mattresses and divans are anti-allergy protected Mattress does not require turning All mattresses and Divans are manufactured in the UK A sample mattress is subjected to 3 rigorous tests to ensure it remains comfortable. Surface fabric is rubbed 15,000 times against a hard surface to test resistance to wear. Mattress is pounded by a machine 80,000 times to replicate the movements of a human torso and subjected to 20,000 rolls of a roller machine to simulate the rolling motion of a sleeping person 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Machine Washable & Tumble Dry Single Breasted 3 Button Stripe Jacket, at Marks and Spencer
Put an end to expensive trips to the dry cleaner with our innovative Machine Washable range. Each suit's stylish cut and fit is combined with high quality fabric that can be machine washed and tumble dried

Real Rose Petal Confetti, at Marks & Spenser
Contains: 1 pack rose petal confetti Bow tie bag 3g

Collezione Single Lock Leather Briefcase, at Marks and Spencer
Sophisticated and luxurious, this leather briefcase is inspired by Italian style

Daughter Sequin Shoes Birthday Card, at Marks & Spenser
Cover text: Birthday Wishes to a Wonderful Daughter Inside message: With lots of love on your birthday Approx size: 175 x 125mm This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future

5 Older Girls' Pure Cotton Contrast Trim Shorts, at Marks and Spencer
Stock up on stylish essentials with this 5 pack of contrast trim cotton shorts

Easy Soup Book, at Marks and Spencers
Cosy up and enjoy heart-warming soups. Enjoy feel-good food with family and friends and take the stress out of cooking with fuss-free, home-made recipes that allow you more time outside of the kitchen. What better way to warm up your winter, or cool down your summer than with a wholesome bowl of soup made using the freshest of ingredients. Impress your friends and create lasting memories with the simple to prepare recipes inside this book

Portfolio Mid Length Zig Zag Print Skirt, at Marks&Spencer
Part of Portfolio's Shades of Paradise trend, featuring the earthy tones of nature combined with rich, tropical highlights. Elegant and feminine styling makes this a chic summer look

Limited Collection Quilted Toe Cap Shoes, at Marks and Spencer
Court style Almond toe Quilted toe cap and heel Single strap buckle fastening Mid heel Heel height: 72mm Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Maxim Square Dip Bowl, at Marks and Spencers
Versatile fine dining range Suitable for everyday use Pure white porcelain L9 x W9cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Short Sleeve Tribal Tier Top with Angora, at Marks & Spencers
A feminine scoop neck top featuring a pleated bib front and frill cap sleeves

Silver Spot Bursts Bottle Bag, at Marks and Spencers
1 bottle bag with tag Approx size: H370 x W120 x D80mm

Country Bunch Hand Made Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Happy birthday Inside message: ... with lots of love xxx Approx size: 150 x 150mm

50/50 Plain Dye Pillowcase, at Marks n Spencer
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Plain Slip-On Basic Mules, at MarksandSpencer
Relax in style and comfort in these soft mule slippers. Machine washable for added convenience

Freshfeet Suede Driving Moccasins, at Marks n Spencer
Round toe Stitch detail Flat sole Lined Slip-on With built in Freshtech™ technology for fresh, odour-free slippers Freshtech™ technology is permanently built in to the slipper and still performs after many washes Freshtech™ technology combats the bacteria that causes bad smells and odours

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 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 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.