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

Shopping for financial products at Marks & Spencers Money 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 Marks & Spencers Money website:

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

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

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

Thinking that most Car 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 Car Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Car Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately Marks & Spencers Money Car Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Car 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 and Spenser 5 Star Premier cover Car Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Car Insurance plans from companies such as Direct Line, Sainsburys, or Tescos 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 Car 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 Marks & Spencers Money UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

3 Older Girls' Santoni Picot Heart Bikini Briefs, at MarksandSpencer
Practical and fashionable, these bikini briefs feel soft and comfortable to wear

Automatic Countryman Umbrella, at Marks & Spencer
Smart and easy to carry, the practical design of this handy umbrella is the perfect solution for dealing with sudden downpours

Younger Boys' Pure Cotton Mr Men Hat, at Marks & Spencers
Fans of Mr Men and Little Miss will love this sun hat featuring Mr Bump the popular character

Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2008 - Case of 12, at Marks n Spencer
Grape Variety: 60% Clairette, 40% white Grenache Country of origin: France Closure: Synthetic closure Suitable for vegetarians and vegans Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Champagne Oudinot Vintage 2002 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spencers
Style: Dry Grape variety: Chardonnay Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork 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

My Friend's Handbag Heaven, at M&S
Suitable for ages 3+ Contains a handbag, cell phone, cards and instructions Comes with felt decorations Develops creativity This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Faux Silk Pencil Pleat Curtains, at Marks & Spencer
Faux silk effect fabric Pencil pleat Lined Plain Comes in standard 168cm/66in (STD) and wider 219cm/86in (WDR) widths Also comes in three drop lengths: short (137cm/54in), medium (183cm/72in), long (229cm/90in) How to measure for window dressings: Click here for a guide to measuring for curtains, pelmets and roman blinds., Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Classic Collection Cotton Rich Jersey Jacket, at Marks & Spencers
Smart and fashionable, this cotton rich jacket is finished with stitch detail. A practical, versatile style that can be worn with smart or casual outfits

Scout Comfort Sleeping Bag, at Marks & Spencer
1 season lightweight and spacious sleeping bag with a square hood and base for extra comfort. Ideal for camping and caravanning. Comfort temperature of +10C

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Joggers Outfit, at Marks & Spencers
Fun and practical, this joggers outfit is outstanding value. The soft cotton will keep her feeling comfy

3 Pairs of Cotton Blend Socks with Linen, at Marks and Spencer
Soft and comfortable, these cotton blend socks are naturally breathable and absorbent, keeping feet dry and comfy. A reinforced heel and toe gives extra durability

Disney Winnie the Pooh I Love You Book, at Marks and Spencer
Young children will love seeing their picture in this charming book all about things to do. With fun rhymes and simple activities to help your little one recognise colours and shapes, and learn to count

Walkmates Twin Strap Riptape Shoes, at Marks & Spensers
Click here for more information on Walkmates shoes Round toe Contrast stitch Twin strap riptape fastening

Little Miss Sunshine Swimsuit, at Mark's & Spencer
Great for splashing around in, this comfortable swimsuit features Little Miss Sunshine

Per Una Long Sleeve Bouncy Frill Cardigan, at Marks & Spencers
A casual long sleeve open cardigan in a soft cotton blend. Bouncy frill trim details give it the Per Una touch

First Readers The Three Billy Goats Gruff, at Mark's & Spencer
The Billy Goats Gruff want to eat the green grass on the other side of the bridge. But can they face up to the troll? He is waiting for the three goats!

Tapered Clear Glass Bud Vase, at Marks & Spencers
Tapered shape Simple transparent glass vase Thick base Trapped bubble detail Hand made, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

2 Older Girls' Sport Santoni Bras, at Marks and Spencer
These great value bras are ideal for everyday wear. They're made with stretchy fabric for a supportive and comfortable fit

Rosina Armchair, at Marks and Spencer
H82 x W92 x D97cm Seat H45cm (all dimensions are approximate) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - 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 feature 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 Solid birch feet with a medium finish All of our fabrics are treated with Stain-Defence& trade; - 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

Pure Cotton 3/4 Sleeve Denim Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Casual and contemporary, this denim shirt is made from cool comfortable cotton and features popper fastening

Panasonic 42'' TX-P42S10 Full HD Plasma TV, at Marks and Spencer
HD Ready 1080p: Displays images in Full HD 1080p, the maximum resolution defined for HDTV use, when connected to an HD compatible device Display: 50 inch plasma screen, 2,073,600 (1,920 x 1,080) pixels Contrast ratio (in dark surroundings): Native 30,000:1, Dynamic 2,000,000:1 Integrated Digital Tuner: Gives you access to all Freeview™ terrestrial digital TV channels and all digital radio stations (subject to coverage in your area) Dimensions: W102.9 x H70.4 x D33.4cm (with stand) H102.9 x H66.1 x D10.5cm (without stand) Weight: 27kg (with stand) 25kg (without stand) V-Audio with SRS TruSurround XT: V-Audio delivers crystal-clear sound with superior bass performance while the SRS TruSurround produces enhanced surrounding effects Connectors: 4 HDMI, 2 Scart, PC Input, S-Video, Component Video Input, Headphone Jack VIERA Superior Picture Quality: The VIERA system provides richly expressed images with enhanced contrast and deeper natural colours, thanks to the wider x.v.Colour palette Digital Cinema Colour: Superb colour reproduction with 5,1200 steps of gradation Intelligent Frame Creation With 24p Playback: With 50Hz video signal input, the Intelligent Frame Creation achieves high moving picture resolution even in fast-motion scenes. 24p Playback creates high speed playback of images to recreate the full cinematic experience SD Card Slot: View your treasured photos on the big screen by simply removing your camera's memory card and sliding it into the SD card slot VIERA Link: Enables you to control all your AV systems with only one remote Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Las Falleras Duo - Case of 6, at M & S
3 Las Falleras White 2008:A fresh, lively and dry example of Spanish Macabeo... 3 Las Falleras Red 2008:Bright and youthful with a lively aroma and flavour... You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Per Una Linen Blend Patch Skirt, at Marks & Spencer
An elegant knee-length skirt in a crisp linen blend. The patch design and arch panel hem detail give it the Per Una touch

Under the Weather Ducks Get Well Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Sorry you're under the weather... Inside message: ...get well soon Approx size: 150mm x 150mm

Perfect Short Sleeve Mini Spot Print Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
Wear this cute, versatile shirt under a dress or tank top, or team it with a skirt or trousers. Any way you wear it, you'll be right on trend

Panasonic HDC-TM300 Camcorder, at Marks & Spencers
Pixels: 9.15 megapixels Zoom: 12x optical zoom / 700x digital zoom Screen: 2.7 Wide LCD ( 230,400 pixels) Dimensions: H7.2 x W7 x D14.1cm Weight: 385g (without batteries and card) Media: Built-in memory (32GB), SD/SDHC Memory Card Recording format: MPEG4-AVC/H.264 (AVCHD standard compliant) Audio recording system: Dolby Digital (5.1ch) Microphone: 5.1ch surround, zoom and focus microphone Power supply: DC7.2V / 9.3V

Happy Birthday Cake Stand Gift Card, at Mark & Spencers
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

Girls' Limited Hello Kitty Hat & Scarf Set, at Mark & Spencers
Snug and cosy, this cute hat and scarf set is a fashionable choice for chilly weather.

Pure Cotton Trench Coat, at Marks & Spencer
This trench coat is a chic, timeless piece featuring a flattering waist tie and it looks great worn with both smart and casual outfits

A Year In Your Garden Book, at Marks&Spencer
A beautiful range of 5 gardening titles, full of inspiring ideas and tips both for the novice and more experienced gardener. From pots and small backyards to larger gardens, feel confident in choosing the right flowers and shrubs for the right place all year round! Packed full of wonderful colour photography, these books will prepare and motivate you to garden

When you're shopping at Marks & Spenser 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 Marks & Spencers Money. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Household Insurance and Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks and Spencer than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from Marks & Spencers Money. 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 Marks & Spencers Money, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the Marks & Spencers Money 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."