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 Finance website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Car Insurance, M&S Home Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

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 Home Insurance and Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks and Spenser 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."

Shopping for financial products at M&S Finance UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Marks & Spencer online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the M&S Finance website:

• M&S Insurance: M&S Car Insurance, M&S Home Insurance, M&S Life Insurance, M&S Wedding Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance
• M&S Credit Cards: M&S Credit Card, M&S Premium Club Card
• M&S Loans: M&S Car Buying Plan, M&S Personal Loans
• M&S Money: M&S Travel Money for your trips abroad
• M&S Savings: M&S Everyday Savings Account, M&S Fixed Rate Savings, M&S Stocks & Shares ISA, M&S Cash ISA, M&S Unit Trust

Of course, many of these types of product can be purchased elsewhere too; however, once you begin to take a closer look at the products from Marks and Spencer, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

And, just as importantly, contacting M&S Finance in the event of a query, or an insurance claim, is as easy as picking up the phone, or visiting the M&S Finance website.

3 Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Assorted Tops, at Marks and Spencer
Fun and practical, this pack of 3 tops is great value. The soft cotton fabric will keep him comfy and happy

Leather Contrast Stitch Purse, at Mark's & Spencer
This stylish purse is made from real leather with reinforced stitching and a secure popper fastening. A high quality and chic essential

Blue Harbour Luxury Modal Blend Stripe Polo Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Stylishly smart casual, this polo 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

BT Studio 3100 Cordless Phone, at Marks and Spencer
50 name and number phonebook Assign melodies to specific phonebook entries Caller display stores your last 40 numbers and will display their name and number each time they call Call waiting Redial and recall your last ten calls Secrecy facility - allows you to talk to someone else in the room without the caller hearing Earpiece, base station and handset ringer volume control Choice of 5 handset and 5 base ringer melodies Display language options Keypad lock Talktime up to 10 hours, 30 minutes/standby time up to 160 hours Range of up to 300 metres outdoors/50 metres indoors Low battery and out of range warnings Switchboard compatible Tone and pulse dialling and dialling pause GAP compatible (register up to 4 handsets to one base) - internal calls, call transfer, 3-way calling Includes: 2 rechargeable batteries, mains power adaptor, one telephone line cord 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

Pure Silk Geometric Swirl Lightweight Scarf, at Marks & Spencer
Add a luxurious finishing touch to your look with this elegant pure silk geometric swirl print scarf. The perfect accessory to this season's styles

Autograph Weekend Long Sleeve Polo Neck Top, at Marks & Spencer
Sophisticated and modern, this polo neck top is beautifully designed and cut to flatter for the best in contemporary style

Compact Plain Umbrella, at Marks and Spencers
Brighten up rainy days with this stylish lightweight umbrella

7 Pure Cotton Assorted Heart Print Bodysuits, at Marks & Spensers
Cute and practical, this pack of 7 bodysuits is great value. Popper fastenings and envelope necklines make quick changes easy and the soft cotton fabric will keep her feeling comfy and happy

Canon PowerShot A480 Digital Camera, at Marks and Spencer
Pixels: 10.0 megapixels Zoom: 3.3x optical zoom , 13x digital zoom Screen: 2.5'' LCD display ISO: AUTO, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 Dimensions: W92.1 x H62.0 x D31.1 mm Weight: 140g Video: Movie modes include Long Play (LP) for VGA (20fps) clips that use half the normal memory card space. Motion Detection Technology: The optimal ISO level is then automatically set, to minimise blur and maximise image quality PictBridge Enabled: Enables you to print images using a USB cable to connect the PowerShot A470 to a printer without a PC Face Detection Technology: Ensures superb people shots by automatically setting optimum focus, exposure, flash and white balance Red-Eye Correction: Easily removes red-eye in-camera Processor: DIGIC III processor provides lightning quick responses and superb image quality. iSAPS technology uses shooting scene data to optimise camera settings even before a shot is taken, so you're free to concentrate on capturing the moment Shooting Modes & Special Scenes: 15 shooting modes including dedicated Kids & Pets and Indoor modes - make it easy to get the right settings for any scene. Simply select the mode you want, and let the camera take care of everything else System requirements: Windows XP SP2-3 / Vista (including SP1), Mac OS X v10.4 - 10.5 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

Blue Harbour Pure Cotton Postage Print T-Shirt, at M&S
Fashionable and relaxed, this postage print t-shirt is made from pure cotton so it's soft, breathable and comfortable to wear

Pure Cotton Spot Print Pyjama Shorts, at Marks and Spenser
Pretty and feminine, these shorts are made from soft breathable cotton for a comfortable night's sleep

Pork Crackling Joint, at MarksandSpencer
Serves 9-11 Ready to cook 2kg As featured on page 37 in the food to order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 5 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Linen Blend Stitch Detail Shorts, at Marks and Spencer
Cute and sassy, these easy-fit linen shorts are relaxed and casual. Stitch detailing adds a stylish finishing touch

Handcrafted Contemporary Eggs Easter Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Easter treats Inside message: blank for your own message Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Connoisseur Chocolate Rose Cake, at M&S
Serves 25 Chocolate cake: a rich chocolate cake filled with milk chocolate ganache. Chocolate cakes can be eaten up to 5 days after collection Contains alcohol - Grand Marnier liqueur Cake size: Diam 25cm 1.7kg Not suitable for nut allergy sufferers Suitable for vegetarians As featured on page 67 of the Food to Order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 7 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Classic Chaise - Right-Hand, at M+S
H86 x W182 x D78cm Seat H46cm (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 Cushion covers are not removeable 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 samples: 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

Handcrafted Woven Label Valentine Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover text: With love Inside message: On Valentine's Day This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: Unfolded: 178 x 127mm

2 Cotton Rich Short Sleeve V-Neck Vests, at Marks & Spencer
A seam free design along the sides and the soft qualities of pure cotton ensures these great vests provide the ultimate in everyday comfort

Autograph Pure Cotton V-Neck Cardigan & T-Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
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

M&S 1.5m High Performance Flat Gold Scart Cable, at Marks and Spencer
1.5 metre flat cable 24 carat gold connections Titanium finished plugs Multiple shielding for minimum interference 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

3 Pairs of Assorted Trainer Socks, at Marks&Spencer
Designed to hide neatly inside your trainers, these breathable cotton rich socks are made with added stretch for comfort, superior shape retention and durability

Cookie Nan Birthday Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover text: To my lovely Nan Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Autograph Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Large Check Shirt, at M+S
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

Large Stud Earrings, at Marks and Spencers
Butterfly stud fastening Large stud design For hygiene reasons, refunds will only be given in accordance with your legal rights

Younger Girls' Embroidered Canvas Ankle Trainers, at Marks & Spensers
Round toe Lace up Spot print contrast tongue Floral embroidered design Cut out heart detail Contrast flat sole

Summer Dress Card, at Marks and Spenser
Cover text: Wishing you a wonderful birthday Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Tasmania Pinot Noir 2007 - Case of 6, at M+S
Style: Dry, medium-bodied Grape Variety: Pinot Noir Country of origin: Australia 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 You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Mother Ribbon Blossom Flower Birthday Card, at MarksandSpencer
Cover text: Birthday Wishes to a Very Special Mother Inside message: Wishing you a wonderful day Approx size: 175 x 125mm

Lullaby Bear with Blanket Comforter, at Marks and Spencer
Teddy bear with detatchable comforter blanket Contrast soles Double lined for safety Bear: H23 x W13 x L22cm Blanket: 25 x 25cm Suitable for ages 0+ This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Short Sleeve Sunset Stripe Blouse, at Mark's & Spencer
A colourful short sleeve blouse in textured fabric featuring a bold sunset stripe print

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 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 Home 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 Home 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.