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 & Spencers, through its M+S Money website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Motor 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.

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

• M&S Insurance: M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Buildings 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 M+S, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

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

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

Platform Spot Mule Slippers, at MarksandSpencer
Round toe Slip-on flat sole Spot print inside lining Mule style

Single Breasted 3 Button Stitch Detail Jacket, at Mark's & Spencer
Fashionable and modern, this tailored single breasted jacket features three button fastening and stitch detail. A smart and stylish choice

Metal Visor Sunglasses, at Marks & Spencers
Providing essential protection for the eyes, these stylish and wearable shades will flatter most face shapes

Compton Media Unit, at Marks & Spencer
H50 x W127 x D45cm Shelf dimensions: H14 x W48 x D40cm 2 adjustable shelves Made from White Oak solids and veneers Hand distressed, with the distressing aged with dark patina Mid-brown stained finish, followed by 2 coats of durable, clear lacquer of low sheen Solid hardwood legs Side panels, door panels, back panels made from oak veneer. Top panels made from oak veneer with a solid oak edging for strength 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

Autograph High Heel Suede Detail Shoes, at Marks and Spencer
Open toe Suede detail Elasticated ankle strap High heel Heel height: 80mm Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Per Una Short Sleeve Varied Stripe Top, at Marks & Spencer
A smart short sleeve top featuring a scoop neck and ruffle detail

Autograph Roll Up Sleeve Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Smart and contemporary, this pure cotton shirt can be worn long sleeved, or with the sleeves rolled up and fastened in place. Epaulette detailing brings the look up to date. Ideal for sixth form wear

Penny's Hill ''Specialised'' Shiraz Cabernet Merlot 2006 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spencer
Style: Dry Grape Variety: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Country: Australia Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians and vegans Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 15% Alcohol units per bottle: 11.3 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.9 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product

Cotton Rich Velour Stripe Hooded Jacket, at Mark & Spencers
Soft and comfy, this hooded jacket is made from velour and features stripe design. An easycare essential with a stylish look.

Flat Front Crease Resistant Self Stripe Trousers, at Marks & Spencers
Stay smarter for longer with these innovative crease resistant trousers.

2 Older Girls' Pure Cotton Crop Tops, at Marks & Spencers
Cute and comfortable and soft and stretchy, these comfy crop tops make a great way of getting girls used to the idea of wearing bras

Handcrafted Valentine's Kisses Bulldog Valentine Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover Text: Valentine kisses Inside message: Just for you xxx This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Twin Bunnies in Stockings New Baby Card, at M & S
Cover text: Congratulations... it's Twins! Inside message: Wishing you lots of happiness with your two bundles of joy! Approx size: Unfolded: 178 x 126mm

3 Non-Iron Short Sleeve Blouses, at Mark & Spencers
A great value 3-pack of school blouses, non-iron for convenience. Taped reinforced sleeves give a smooth neat look

Compaq Presario SR5707UK-M Desktop PC Bundle, at Marks & Spensers
Operating system:Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit Processor:Intel Celeron Dual Core processor E1400, Intel G31 express chipset Memory:2GB DDR2-SDRAM, 2 DIMM sockets Storage:320GB SATA 3G Hard Disk Drive (7200 rpm), Up to 13GB partition for system recovery DVD writer SATA DVD RAM and Double Layer supporting LightScribe technology, Create silkscreen-quality disc labels direct from your PC with LightScribe: Just burn, flip, burn 15 in 1 memory card reader Communication:Ethernet 10/100BT integrated network interface Video:Intel Graphic Media Accelerator 3100, Integrated Graphics (VGA port) 128 MB dedicated memory, up to 287 MB total available graphics memory as allocated by Windows Vista Sound:High Definition Audio 5.1 (2 front audio ports, 3 rear analog audio ports) Included accessories:PS/2 keyboard and optical mouse Optional accessories:LCD Monitors (buy separately): Compaq WF1907v 19-inch Wide Flat Panel Monitor, Compaq W220q 22-inch Wide Flat Panel Monitor Ports and Expandability: 2 external optical drive bays, 1 internal HDD bay, 1 PCI-Express 16x (free), 1 PCI (1 free) and 2 PCI-Express 1x (2 free), 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 in front) Software: Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 60-Day Trial Version, Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0, Windows Mail, Adobe Reader 8.0 HP MediaSmart Suite: Music, Video, DVD, Photo, HP Total Care Advisor, Photosmart Essential, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Media Player, Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker, Cyberlink DVDSuite, Muvee AutoProducer, EasyBits Magic Desktop, HP Games Console with hours of free game play, featuring EA Spore Creature Creator, Windows Media Center Service and Support:Recovery partition (including possibility to recover system, applications and drivers separately) Optional re-allocation of recovery partition Recovery CD/DVD creation tool Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (60 days live update) Weight:9.53 kg, packed: 14 kg Dimensions:16.9 x 42.6 x 37.7cm Warranty: 1 year, pick-up and return, parts and labour You can expand the warranty coverage of your product up to 3 years

Reversible Knitted Wrap, at Marks & Spencer
Keep warm without compromising on style! This fashionable wrap is reversible, making it even more versatile. A great way to add a cosy extra layer

Château de Balan Bordeaux 2006 - Case of 12, at Marks & Spencer
Country of origin: France Grape variety: Medium Bodied Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 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

Big & Tall Silk Blend Single Pleat Trousers, at Marks & Spensers
Smart and stylish, these single pleat trousers are made from fine quality linen with silk for a touch of luxury. A practical, hardwearing and fashionable choice. Perfectly proportioned for big and tall men

White Ceramic Collection Tumbler, at Marks and Spencers
Plain Cylinder design H11 x Diam 9cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

2 Younger Boys' Cotton Rich Little Devil Pyjamas, at Mark & Spencers
Soft and comfy, this pack of 2 little devil pyjamas are outstanding value

Leather ID Hip Wallet, at M&S
Smart, stylish and practical, this leather wallet makes it easy to organise cards, notes and coins features multiple comparments

Per Una Pure Cotton Mosaic Floral Kaftan, at Marks & Spencer
A casual 3/4 sleeve kaftan in pure soft cotton featuring a mosaic floral print and tie bow feature

Ceriso Embroidered Bow Low Rise Shorts, at M&S
Flirty and fashionable, these modern shorts feature bow embroidery and a lace and ribbon trim. The low rise, low leg style gives a flattering, shapely fit. Designed for women who want the latest look

Autograph Pure Cotton Slim Fit Jeans, at Mark's & Spencer
Ideal for sixth form, these slim cut jeans give a long lean look. They're made form pure cotton and feature fashionable crease detailing

Autograph Milan Soap Dish, at Mark & Spencers
Dipped centre Wall mounted Approx size: W10.6 x L7 x D1.3cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Large Fish, at Marks & Spencers
Beautiful hand casted aluminum fish Place it in your garden and bring it to life H16 x W21 x D10cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Big & Tall Flat Front Lightweight Crease Resistant Trousers, at Mark & Spensers
Stay smarter for longer with these innovative crease resistant trousers Perfectly proportioned for big and tall men

De Saint Gall Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut Champagne - Case of 6, at Marks & Spenser
Style: Dry Grape variety: Chardonnay Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 12% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.5 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

3 Easycare Short Sleeve Blouses, at Marks & Spencers
This 3 pack of easycare short sleeve blouses is outstanding value. Reinforced seams give extra strength and durability

Angel Cotton Rich Stripe First Bra & Shorts Set, at Marks & Spencers
This simply styled great value bra set is ideal for everyday wear. It's made with stretchy cotton for a supportive and comfortable fit and the non-wired design is the best choice for first bras

M+S Money offers a variety of financial and insurance products, but Motor Insurance is something that almost everyone needs - at least if you own a car. Unfortunately there are so many companies offering Motor Insurance today that, after a while, one policy may begin to look much like the next.

Thinking that most Motor Insurance policies are much the same is usually a bad idea. At worst it can be a very expensive mistake - this is when you find out that your Motor Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Motor Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately M+S Money Motor Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Motor Insurance to the competition then it stacks up quite nicely.

For example, here are just some of the options which come as standard with Marks & Spenser 5 Star Premier cover Motor Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Motor Insurance plans from companies such as Direct Line, Sainsburys, or Tesco Direct:

• Personal UK and European Breakdown Cover automatically included
• Comprehensive cover for trips abroad in the European Union - up to 90 days per trip
• Courtesy car during approved repairs automatically included
• Cover for Motor Legal Protection automatically included

So, it is clear that, besides being good value, M&S Motor Insurance also provides much more extensive cover than some of the top competitors. Additionally, you don't even need to be behind the wheel to benefit from M+S Money UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.