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 MarksandSpencer are so useful. M&S Finance financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks & Spencer 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, Household Insurance policies. Usually, UK Household 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 Household 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 Household Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

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

Portfolio 3/4 Sleeve Lace Ponte Dress, at Marks & Spensers
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

Luxury Wool Rich Flat Front Charcoal Herringbone Trousers with Cashmere, at Marks & Spencer
Over 20 hours of hand stitching goes into every one of these beautifully tailored suits. The exceptional craftsmanship, careful attention to detail and luxurious wool and cashmere blend fabric and make this suit stand out as a stylish modern classic

5 Pure Cotton Slips, at Marks & Spencers
These essential slips offer all the comfort of soft cotton at a great value price

Scoop Neck Lace Vest, at Marks and Spencer
Stylish and practical, this lace vest makes an ideal choice for everyday wear

16-Piece Brushed Aurora Cutlery Set, at Marks & Spencer
16-piece set Includes 4 forks, 4 knives, 4 spoons and 4 teaspoons Brushed stainless steel finish 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

Parisian Chic Shopping List, at Marks & Spenser
Contents: 1 magnetic shopping list (approx. 30 sheets of paper), 1 black ink pen (non refillable) Dimensions: 135 x 255mm

Winchester Table Lamp, at M+S
Conical shade Silver-effect round metal base 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

Autograph Hooded Duffle Coat with Wool, at Marks & Spenser
Part of Kids' Autograph, a luxurious collection of beautifully designed clothing in high quality fabrics with superior finishing details. Kids' Autograph gives a stylish well-dressed look

Silver Plated Diamanté Knot Stud Earrings, at Marks and Spencers
Butterfly stud fastening Diamant detail Knot design

Cotton Rich Low Rise Star Print Bikini Knickers, at Marks & Spencers
Fun and flirty, these cute star print bikini briefs sit low on the waist - perfect for wearing under hipsters. They're cut away at the front and sides and cover the bottom for a comfortable and flattering fit

Travel Soap Leaves Pack, at Marks&Spencer
2 pocket size containers 1 laundry soap bar 1 face and body soap bar

Short Sleeve Heart Print Belted Blouse, at Marks & Spencers
This fab short sleeve blouse features a stunning heart print design. A vibrant new look, perfect for this season

Autograph Wool Rich Funnel Neck Double Breasted Coat, at Marks & Spencers
Contemporary styling and superior finishing makes this Autograph double breasted coat a fashionable choice for this season

Chablis 2007 - Case of 6, at M & S
Style: Dry, light to medium bodied Grape variety: Chardonnay Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 12.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.4 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.6 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video Camera, at Marks n Spencer
Sensor type: 1 / 4.5type 1.6 MP CMOS Lens: 4.1 mm, f/2.8, fixed focus Zoom: 2X digital Display: 2.0 in. LCD Storage: 128 MB internal memory*, SD/SDHC card expansion slot Focus system: fixed Focus modes: normal Focus range: 27.6 in. (70 cm)infinity White balance: auto Video capture: H.264 (MOV), AAC LC Video quality: HD60: 720p at 60 fps16:9; HD: 720p at 30 fps16:9 (default); VGA: 640 4804:3 Still format: JPEG Picture quality: 3 MP (stills, interpolated) Playback mode: FF & REW: 2X, 4X, 8X, 16X; slow motion FF & REW: 1/2X, 1/4X, 1/8X, 1/16X Microphone: mono Speaker: yes I/O interface: USB 2.0 (high speed); HDMI output; AV output; DC in; SD/SDHC card slot Tripod mount: 1/4 in. standard Power: KODAK Li-Ion Rechargeable Digital Camera Battery KLIC-8000; KODAK Lithium Digital Camera Battery CRV3; (2) Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries; (2) Alkaline Batteries; DC-in for 5 V AC Adapter Dimensions: 5 11 2cm Weight: 90g (without batteries) Package contents: KODAK Zx1 Pocket Video Camera; (2) AA Pre-Charged Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries; Battery charger; HDMI, AV, and USB cables; Wrist strap; Camera pouch; Designer cover; User Guide; On-camera software: ARCSOFT MEDIA IMPRESSION Software for Kodak (PC only) 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

Easy Iron Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Plain Shirt, at M & S
Made for your added convenience, this pure cotton shirt is a smart step in the right direction, thanks to a handsome design and double button cuffs

Collezione Luxury Wool Blend 2 Button Jacket with Silk, at Marks and Spencer
Italian tailoring is renowned for its sophisticated style. Each collezione suit is designed with that same passion, using the finest fabrics and best tailoring techniques

Adored Comfort Pansy Lace Shorts, at M & S
Delicate and pretty, these briefs are made from the softest fabric and trims, so they feel blissfully comfortable to wear. The modern shorts style gives a flattering shapely fit. Feminine everyday lingerie

Silver Plated Twist Drop Earrings, at Marks & Spenser
Hook fastening Drop style Twist design For hygiene reasons, refunds will only be given in accordance with your legal rights

Footglove™ Faux Crocodile Skin Loafers, at MarksandSpencer
Square toe Stitch detail Slip on Low wedge heel Faux crocodile skin design Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Footglove™ Square Toe Slingbacks, at Marks & Spenser
Square toe Floral design Medium heel Slingback style Plain Heel height: 2.3 inch Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight

Hamilton 2 Seater Sofa, at Marks and Spencer
H95 x W202 x D99cm Seat H49cm, arm H66cm, top back rail H73cm Seat cushions made from Quallofil Extralife filling. Click here for more information on Quallofil Extralife Cushions are reversible on fabric upholstery options Free swatch samples: Order up to 6 free swatch samples of any fabric to help you choose your upholstery by calling 0845 603 1 603 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

The Floral Collection Lavender Drawer Spray, at Mark & Spensers
3 in 1 body, room and linen spray 25ml 20 drawer scenter cards This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Ditsy Floral Print Flexilite Umbrella, at Marks and Spencer
Brighten up rainy days with this stylish lightweight umbrella

Pure Cotton Broderie Ribbed Top, at M & S
This short sleeved top will make a useful addition to your wardrobe. It features pretty embroidered details for a stylish casual look

Football Keyring, at Mark & Spensers
You'll never lose your keys again with this eye-catching keyring

Utensils & Gadgets - AUTOGRAPH MASHER, at Marks & Spencers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cashmere Floral Embroidered Cardigan, at Marks and Spenser
Knitted in pure cashmere, this pretty embroidered cardigan will keep her warm and comfy. It looks cuddly too!

2 Pairs of Opaque Assorted Print Tights, at Marks and Spenser
Stock up on stylish essentials with this pack of 2 opaque heart and butterfly print tights

Pure Cotton Short Sleeve Check Shirt, at Marks and Spencers
A contemporary check print makes this cotton shirt a trend-conscious choice for fashionable boys. Stylish, practical and easycare

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 Finance. 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 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."