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 & Spensers are so useful. M&S Money Direct financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks & 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, Property Insurance policies. Usually, UK Property 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 Property 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 Property Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

Besides Marks & Spencer Car Insurance, M&S Money Direct Credit Cards and other financial products, M&S Money Direct Property 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 Marks n Spencer purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both M&S Money Direct Premier Property Insurance and Standard Property 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.

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 M&S 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 Mark's & 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 Car Insurance, M&S Property Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

Florentyna Hand & Nail Cream, at Marks & Spensers
To use: carefully massage into the hands, especially after washing paying particular attention to dry or damaged skin 100ml

Older Boys' Cassette Print Swimming Shorts, at Marks&Spencer
Fun and fashionable, these lined shorts fit comfortably and securely. A cassette print design adds a fab finishing touch

Autograph Weekend Full Length Leggings, at Marks & Spencer
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

Christening Church Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: Christening with love on your special day Inside message: Wishing you lots of happiness This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the worlds forests for the future Approx size: 174 x 124mm

125 Years Autograph Pure Cotton Floral Frill Top, at M+S
Part of the Commemorative Collection, celebrating 125 years of M&S. Fabulous vintage style inspired by our archives

Collezione Leather Hip Wallet, at Marks and Spencer
Smart, stylish and practical, this leather wallet makes it easy to organise cards, notes and coins

Per Una Pleated Spot Print Dress, at Marks & Spencer
A sophisticated cap sleeve dress, featuring pleated bustline detail and a contrast hem

Lichfield Slat-Back Fabric Chair, at Marks and Spencer
H102 x W46 x D60cm Single chair Made from White Oak solids and veneers Finished with 3 coats of durable, clear lacquer of mid sheen Chair frames made from solid European hardwood 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

Pure Cotton Stripe Shrug Mock Layer Top, at Marks & Spencer
A stripe shrug mock layer top adds a fashionable touch to this pure soft cotton top

Pure Cotton Round Neck Plain T-Shirt, at Mark's & Spencer
This short sleeved t-shirt will make a useful addition to your wardrobe. Great for layering or wearing on its own

Portfolio Scoop Neck Jersey Top, at Mark's & 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

Autograph Slate Place Mat, at Marks & Spencers
Square design H x 30cm W x 21cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Thelema Sutherland Chardonnay 2008 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spencer
Style: Dry Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay Country of origin: South Africa Closure: Screw cap Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.8 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.6 Contains sulphites This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Flat Front Crease Resistant Fine Stripe Trousers, at MarksandSpencer
Stay smarter for longer with these innovative crease resistant trousers

Glass Boxed Mirror Photo Frame 20 x 25cm (8 x 10''), at M&S
Plain glass boxed mirror photoframe Aperture: 20 x 25cm (8 x 10'') H39 x W34cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Snake Band Hipster Bikini Bottoms, at Marks and Spencers
Stylish and elegant, these fashionable bikini bottoms feature a pretty snake print band. The ultimate in poolside glamour

Black Glass Photo Frame (4 x 6), at Mark's & Spencer
Black glass design Dimensions: 4 x 6, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Garlic Crusher, at Marks and Spencer
Coated design L15cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Petite Short Sleeve Snake Print Shirt, at Mark's & Spencer
Chic and modern, this short sleeve shirt features a stunning snake print. A vibrant new look, perfect for this season. Specially designed and perfectly proportioned for the petite frame

Ashbourne Large 2 Seater Sofa AU09 Newness, at Marks & Spencer
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Liquid Eyeliner, at Marks & Spenser
Easy-application liquid liner with a fine brush for dramatic eyes Hypo-allergenic

Linen Blend Stripe Straight Leg Trousers, at Marks and Spencers
Simple and stylish, straight leg trousers are a modern classic. This pair sits on the waist and are cut to give a flattering shape that's always in style. Added stretch gives the perfect fit

Girls' Limited Ruffle Skirt & Leggings Set, at M&S
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

Limited Collection Lace Up Wellie Boots, at Marks and Spencer
Round toe Contrast lace detail Low heel Heel height: 23mm Comes in sizes 3-8

Lambswool Blend Long Socks, at M & S
Warm and comfortable, these easycare socks are made from a blend of finesoft lambswool and resilient nylon so they have the softness, breathability and absorbency of wool and are hard wearing. A reinforced heel and toe gives extra durability

Autograph Cotton Rich Swimming Shorts, at M&S
Casual and contemporary, these swimming shorts are part of our exclusive Autograph collection. A great design, superior fabric and careful attention to detail make them exceptionally stylish and comfortable

Indian Jacquard Quilted Bedcover, at Mark & Spencers
L250 x W265cm Indian inspired floral jacquard design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Short Sleeve Pleated Bib Top, at Marks n Spencer
This short sleeve top is beautifully detailed with a pleated bib front for a stylish modern look

Cropped Drawstring Waist Beach Trousers, at M&S
Stylish and shapely these cropped trousers look chic with wedges, sandals or flat pumps

Machine Washable Stripe Tie, at Marks and Spencers
No more trips to the drycleaners! This stripe tie is machine washable

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Money Direct. Not least of these is Marks & Spenser Standard Car Insurance. With M&S Money Direct you can keep the cost of your Car 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 Car Insurance cover from M&S Money Direct, which also has other features.

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