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 and 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 House Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

Besides M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Money Direct Credit Cards and other financial products, M&S Money Direct House Insurance deserves particular mention, with it being particularly good value for money, and providing extra insurance cover that many UK insurance companies either don't provide at all, or would charge extra for.

With M&S Money Direct Premier Contents policy, for example, student's belongings are not only covered at home, but also at college or university. Additionally, dependent relatives are also covered if their belongings happen to be in a nursing home. Even better still, your M&S purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both M&S Money Direct Premier House Insurance and Standard House Insurance policies, you can choose to include Contents Away From Home. This option would then provide valuable cover all of your personal belongings on a worldwide basis.

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

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

Younger Boys' Knitted Beanie Hat, at Marks and Spencer
Warm and comfy, this knitted beanie hat is ideal for chilly days

Under the Weather Ducks Get Well Card, at Marks & Spensers
Cover text: Sorry you're under the weather... Inside message: ...get well soon Approx size: 150mm x 150mm

Girls' Limited Slogan T-Shirt with Check Scarf, at Marks & Spensers
Part of Girls' Limited, a contemporary casual collection in trend-conscious styles and soft comfortable fabrics, designed for easy layering. Perfect for stylish girls who love looking fashionable.

Emily Chair, at Marks & Spenser
H100 x W80 x D103cm Seat H40cm, arm H53cm (all dimensions are approximate) 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 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 Solid birch feet with a natural 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 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

'It's a Boy!' Gift Bag with Balloon & Bear, at Mark's & Spencer
Celebrate the birth of a baby boy with this lovely gift bag that includes pretty pink, yellow and blue blooms. A congratulations balloon and teddy bear makes this gift bag extra special Available for delivery from 1st April to 30th September 2009

16-Piece Cutlery Set, at Marks and Spencer
16-piece set Includes 4 knives, 4 forks, 4 spoons and 4 teaspoons Coloured handles 18/10 stainless steel - the highest grade of stainless steel Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended): please note we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Prints - NAT LINEAR LEAF, at Marks & Spencers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cayman Collar Necklace, at Marks & Spensers
Tie fastening Chunky style Mixed beads Necklace length: beads 46cm, ribbon either side 41cm

Step Ladder Bookcase - Natural, at Marks and Spencer
H190 x W60 x D39.5cm Lean-to shelving unit Crafted from rubberwood Delivered flatpack due to size Some self-assembly required. Delivered boxed to your door. You will need to unpack, assemble and position the item yourself This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Grace Dinner Plate, at M&S
Diam: 27.5 cm Rim detail Leaf print Fine China, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

House and Key New Home Card, at Marks&Spencer
Cover text: New Home Inside message: Welcome to your New Abode This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Classic Collection Ruffle Front Crinkle Blouse, at Marks & Spensers
Feminine and pretty, this floral print blouse will give your look an instant lift. It looks lovely worn with plain skirts or trousers in coordinating colours from the Classic collection

Autograph Pure Wool Flat Front Stripe Trousers, at Marks & Spencers
Our Autograph suits are made from finer fabrics with superior attention to detail, giving you the ultimate in sharp, sophisticated style

Collezione Silk Rich Ethnic Self Print Tie, at Marks and Spenser
Stylish and luxurious, this silk rich tie is part of Collezione, a sophisticated menswear collection inspired by Italian tailoring

Woven Silk Pindot Stripe Tie with Stain Defence™, at M&S
This woven silk tie has been treated with our stain defence™ technology giving inbuilt resistance to everyday spills, this repellence benefit is maintained after dry cleaning

Silver Plated Cluster Disc Bracelet, at Marks & Spencer
Silver plated Art deco style Cluster disc floral design Diamant detail

Ingredients Mango Shower Gel, at Marks & Spencers
Mango fragrance 200ml

Fuji FinePix F200EXR Digital Camera, at Marks and Spencers
Pixels: Super CCD EXR 12 Megapixel switchable sensor Zoom: 5x optical zoom, 4.4x digital zoom Screen: 3" TFT color LCD monitor ISO: Auto / Auto(3200) / Auto(1600) / Auto(800) / Auto(400) / Equivalent to ISO 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 (Standard Output Sensitivity) * Number of recorded pixels: ISO6400: "M" or "S", ISO12800: "S"only Dimensions: W97.7 x H58.9 x D23.4mm / W3.8 x H2.3 x D0.9" (excluding accessories and attachments) Weight: Approx. 175g (excluding accessories, batteries and memory card) Face Detection: Face Detection technology with automatic red-eye removal Movie recording: AVI (Motion JPEG ) with sound Self-timer: Approx. 10 sec./2 sec. delay Power source: Rechargeable NP-50 Li-ion battery (included) / CP-50 with AC power adapter AC-5VX (sold separately)

Younger Boys' Pure Cotton Buzz Shorties, at Mark & Spencers
A must for fans of Toy Story, these pure cotton shorties feature Buzz Lightyear

Leather Slip On Boat Shoes, at Marks and Spenser
Round toe Slip on Stitch detail Strap style feature

Pure Cotton Bird Embroidered Layette Shawl, at Marks and Spenser
Knitted in pure cotton, this cute bird embroidered layette shawl will keep her warm and comfy. It looks cuddly too!

Sweet Bergamot Refresher & Burner Oil, at Marks & Spencer
Sweet bergamot fragrance 15ml, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Machine Washable Pluto Tie, at Mark & Spensers
No more trips to the drycleaners! This striped tie is machine washable

Collezione Pure New Wool Single Breasted 2 Button Jacket, at Mark & Spensers
Italian tailoring is renowned for its sophisticated style. Each collezione jacket 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 garment to give you a feeling of luxury like no other

Per Una Styled Floral Embroidered High Leg Knickers, at Marks & Spenser
Feminine and delicate, these stylish briefs feature a floral embroidered design and are finished with a center bow detail. Pretty everyday fashion

Patent Lace Up Mid Heel Shoe Boots, at M&S
Almond toe Lace up Stitch detail Mid heel Heel height: 72mm Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

In Bloom Honeysuckle & Jasmine Eau De Toilette, at Marks and Spencer
Honeysuckle and Jasmine fragrance 100ml This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Blue Harbour Short Sleeve Self Stripe Shirt, at Mark & Spencers
Stylishly smart casual, this self stripe shirt is made from a modal blend so it feels exceptionally comfortable to wear. Modal is a luxuriously soft fabric made from natural plant fibres

Digital Photo Frame with Detachable Keychain, at M&S
Digital photo frame with detachable keychain and stand. Keep your favourite photographs with you. View your photographs individually or create a slideshow, you can also rotate and edit your photographs using your computer

Petite Pure Cotton Roll-Up Sleeve Blouse, at Marks & Spencers
Chic and modern, this roll-up sleeve blouse is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a floral embellishment. Specially designed and perfectly proportioned for the petite frame

When you're shopping at Marks and Spenser 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 House Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks & Spencer 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."