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 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 Direct 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.

Marks & Spencer may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Buildings Insurance or Car Insurance, but Marks and Spencers 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 M&S Financial Services 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 Buildings 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 (Buildings Insurance, Car 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 Spencers insurance products in document format too.

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

Sunny Town Policemen Set, at M&S
2 policemen and police car Promotes imaginative play Suitable for ages 12 months + This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Freshfeet Zig-Zag Tramline Full Cut Slippers, at Marks and Spenser
Practical, comfortable and stylish, these innovative slippers are made with Freshtech™ technology. They keep feet fresh by combating the bacteria that cause odours. The technology is built into the slippers so they perform effectively wash after wash

Classic Collection Rose Embossed Dressing Gown, at Marks and Spencers
Wrap up and relax in this soft dressing gown featuring embossed design for a fashionable look

Autograph Merano 2-Seater Unit (Right-Hand Arm), at Mark & Spencers
H84 x W172 x D102cm Seat H47cm, arm H63cm, top back rail H63cm (all dimension are approximate) Seat cushions made from shape-retaining foam with extra-thick fibre wrap - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Other cushions filled with polyester fibre. Gives a soft sit with a lived-in look, which will soften and relax even further with use. Fibre is sewn into channels within the interior to prevent settlement in one area of the cushion Fabric options have reversible cushions 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 Glide feet with a dark 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

Waterproof Mattress Protector, at Marks&Spencer
Quilted for comfort Completely waterproof Comes in 4 sizes - single, double, kingsize, super king size, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Monaco Collection - Droplets Floor Lamp, at Marks and Spencers
Chrome plated steel Facetted glass droplets Organza ribbon shade D35 x H149cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

3 Pure Cotton Assorted Words Tea Towels, at Mark's & Spencer
3 part set Assorted words designs, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Collezione Moccasin Leather Loafers, at Marks & Spensers
Luxurious and contemporary, these leather shoes are part of Collezione, inspired by Italian style. Their superior design, quality and hand finishing make them a sophisticated and fashionable choice

English Bloom Chrysanths, at Marks and Spencer
This beautiful bouquet of award winning British bloom chrysanthemums, will make someone's day. Chrysanthemums Direct, our British grower based in Cheshire, was a gold medallist at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show for their display of Chrysanthemums Available for delivery until 30th September 2009

7 Pairs of Fresh Feet Days of the Week Socks, at Marks & Spencers
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

Medium Elephant Soft Toy, at Marks and Spencer
Suitable for ages 0-3yrs H25cm This product conforms to the EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Portfolio Linen Blend Panelled Skirt with Belt, at Marks & Spencer
Part of Portfolio's Parisienne trend. Feel bold and chic in this feminine look inspired by Parisian style. With a striking colour palette of cream, ruby, black and dove grey, this is a style-conscious trend for the new season

Camping Lantern, at Mark & Spencers
With a durable and tough housing ensuring it stands up to the elements, this large camping lantern is an essential part of any outdoor enthusiasts camping kit

Sprung Edge Divan with 2 Large and 2 Small Drawers, at Marks & Spenser
Layer of springs to provide comfort and support while prolonging the life of your mattress Solid pine frame Sprung edge 2 x large drawers 2 x small drawers Half-width drawers at the head end are designed to open without moving your bedside table All our mattresses and divans are anti-allergy, which means the provide effective protection against dust mite allergies, so you'll have a trouble free sleep H41cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Portfolio Short Sleeve Geo Print Blouse, at Marks and 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

Portfolio Scoop Neck Jersey Top, at Marks and 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

Oudinot Rosé Champagne, at M&S
75cl Oudinot Ros Champagne You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

5 New Lace Shorts, at Marks & Spencer
Smart, snug and easy to care for, these cosy shorts combine a flattering fit with a lace design and stretchy fabric to create the perfect knickers for day to day wear

Cotton Rich Knee Length Shorts with Belt, at Marks&Spencer
Casual and comfortable, these knee length shorts make a fashionable and practical choice

High School Musical 2 Soundtrack CD, at M+S
Audio CD, Marks & Spencer

Autograph Essentials Chevron Print Top, at Marks and Spenser
This sleeveless chevron print top will make a useful addition to your wardrobe. It features pretty gathered front design for a stylish casual look

Pure Cotton Hooded Check shirt, at Marks & Spenser
Relaxed and comfortable, this fashionable hooded top is made from pure cotton and features a check print. A practical easycare style

Machine Washable & Tumble Dry Single Breasted 2 Button Black Stripe Jacket, at Marks & Spensers
Put an end to tiresome trips to the dry cleaners. Our range of machine washable and tumble dry suits combine the best in convenience and contemporary style

Glass Link Collar Necklace, at MarksandSpencer
Collar length necklace Various beads Necklace length 40cm, extendable by 7cm

Autograph Sweet Avalanche+ Roses - Dozen, at Marks & Spenser
These extra-long stemmed, large-headed roses come in a selection of glorious shades. All of the rose bouquets are hand-tied and beautifully wrapped in frosted Autograph™ cellophane and black ribbon Available for delivery from 1st April to 30th September 2009

Autograph Velvet Bed Cover, at M&S
Square design Quilted look Stitched detail, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Limited Collection Chantal Charm Bracelet, at Marks and Spenser
Stretch style Multiple layer Mixed beads and charms

Footglove™ Leather Boat Shoes, at M&S
Round toe Stitch detail Bow feature Interweaving cord Contrast panel Flat sole Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Flock Leaf Pencil Pleat Curtains, at Marks and Spencer
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Orchid Gift Card, at Mark's & Spencer
Can be redeemed in any of our UK stores and online Credit card-sized Gift Card with presentation greetings card Gift Cards can be topped up in stores to the maximum value of 500 Gift Cards are valid for 24 months after last use Frequently asked questions Click here to view frequently asked questions about our Gift Cards Click here for full Gift Card terms and conditions This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

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 Mark & Spencers are so useful. M&S Money Direct financial products are, of course, designed to make M+S 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 Money Direct 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 Money Direct Buildings Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.