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 Marks & Spencer, 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 Household 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 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 Money. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Household Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at MarksandSpencer than you might imagine.

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

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 M+S are so useful. M+S Money financial products are, of course, designed to make Mark's & 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 Money 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 Money Household Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

Portfolio Short Sleeve Square Print Blouse, at Marks & Spencer
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

Rectangle Frame Amber Reading Glasses, at Marks & Spencers
Rectangle lens Amber frame For near vision and reading use only Not suitable for persons under 16 years of age Marks and Spencer reading glasses conform to British Standard BS: EN 14 139:2002

Classic Glasses Anniversary Card, at Marks&Spencer
Cover text: Anniversary Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 175 mm x 125 mm This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future

Square Laundry Bin, at Marks & Spenser
Lid flap Woven Ideal for laundry Lined Height 55cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Cat Print T-Shirt, at M&S
A cat print design makes this soft cotton top extra pretty

Body Solutions Smoothing Sleeveless Plain Full Slip, at Mark's & Spencer
A practical fashion essential you can't do without! It's a must-have for enhancing the look of your dresses, particularly those that look see-through under light

Blue Harbour Straight Leg Stretch Denim Jeans, at Marks & Spenser
Classically styled thanks to their straight legs and five pocket design, these are as comfortable and durable as you'd expect from Blue Harbour. Team anything from trainers to boots and jumpers to vest tops

Girls Only Scrapbook Fun, at Marks & Spenser
Complete this scrapbook to make a record of your unique, amazing life! There are spaces for your drawings, photos and thoughts, plus lots of cool stickers to decorate your masterpiece

Tortoise Shawl, at Marks & Spensers
Perfect for snuggling up to at bedtime or wrapping up in during the day, this soft shawl will give your baby a little extra warmth

2 Cool & Fresh Cotton Rich Short Sleeve Vests, at Marks and Spencer
Comfortable, fashionable and practical, these essential vests are ideal for everyday wear.

Portfolio Linen Blend Wrap Tie Cardigan, at Marks & Spencers
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 Flock Stripe Padded DD-G Bra, at MarksandSpencer
Luxurious and elegant, this underwired bra features flock stripe design. It's underwired and structured to give fuller busts great support and a flattering enhanced shape. Beautiful exclusive lingerie

Airflex™ Comfort Apron Lace-Up Shoes, at Mark & Spencers
Round toe Lace up Thick grip sole Contrast stitch detail Unique Airflex™ airflow system for unbeatable comfort

Sequin Cushion, at Marks and Spencer
Sequin detail Rectangular shape L30 x W40cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Blue Harbour Pure Lambswool Argyle Jumper, at Marks & Spencers
An extremely comfortable jumper. It's made from extrafine lambswool which is spun for the softest feel. Conveniently, it can be machine washed and tumble dried and it resists bobbling

Autograph Pure Wool Flat Front Stripe Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
Our Autograph suits are made from finer fabrics with superior attention to detail, giving you the ultimate in sharp, sophisticated style

Limited Collection Butterfly Rope Necklace, at Marks and Spenser
Butterfly design charms Adjustable length Clasp fastening Length: 96cm, extendable by 8cm

Samsung 19'' LE19B541 HD Ready LCD TV - White, at Marks & Spencer
HD Ready: This TV is able to display sharper, clearer and more vibrant High Definition images when connected to an HD compatible device Display: 19" Widescreen LCD TV, 1366 x 768 resolution Contrast Ratio: 5000:1 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: W477.1 x H65.5 x D326.9mm (without stand) W477.1 x D180.2 x H374mm (with stand) Weight: 4.8kg (with stand), 4.2kg (without stand) SRS TruSurround HD: For enhanced surround sound effect Connectors: 1 x HDMI, 1 x composite (AV), 1 x PC input (D-sub), 1 x RF input, 1x headphone, 1x scart Wide Colour Enhancer 2: Primary colours are strengthened to increase depth and intensity to show pictures in all their natural beauty Clear Panel Prevents glare to keep images clean and clear 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 Please Note: Freeview™ is not yet available to the whole of the UK. We advise that you check that your postcode area can receive the Freeview signal before ordering this product Please Note: To receive the full range of Freeview™ channels, customers should use an outdoor wide band aerial. Suitable portable TV aerials can be used to receive Freeview but the quality of the reception is dependent on the quality of the product and the signal area. Due to these factors you may not receive all Freeview channels when using an indoor aerial This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more Use wall mount

Per Una Speziale Trio Eye Colour, at Marks and Spencer
Use dry for a soft colour finish Use wet for a more intense look 3 colours Hypoallergenic

Maternity 2 Plain Full Length Leggings, at Marks & Spencers
Fashionable and modern, these plain leggings are designed to flatter you and your bump. Added stretch and a clever cut give a neat, comfortable fit with room for growth. An essential fashion favourite

Ingredients Pomegranate Shower Gel, at Marks & Spencers
Pomegranate scent This fruity shower gel will leave your skin feeling fresh and clean 200ml

Citronella Tealights - Bag of 50, at Marks and Spencer
Contains: 50 t-lights Up to 5 hours burning time for each, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

F400 Pocket Memory Foam Mattress with Coolmax°, at Marks & Spensers
Single (3ft): W90 x L190cm Double (4ft 6in): W135 x L190cm King Size (5ft): W150 x L200cm Super King Size (6ft): W180 x L200cm Mattress depth: 25cm Spring count: 1225 Individually pocketed springs Layer of resilient foam and memory foam and also polyester fibre Foam layers encourage air circulation Two rows of hand side-stitching give edge-to-edge support Quality Belgian fabric for added durability Coolmax stretch knit cover helps regulate body temperature and adds a soft feel Memory foam moulds to the shape of your body once warmed by body heat providing high levels of support Anti-allergy protected for the life of the mattress Does not require turning Manufactured in the UK A sample mattress is subjected to 3 rigorous tests to ensure it remains comfortable. Surface fabric is rubbed 15,000 times against a hard surface to test resistance to wear. Mattress is pounded by a machine 80,000 times to replicate the movements of a human torso and subjected to 20,000 rolls of a roller machine to simulate the rolling motion of a sleeping person 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Pure Cotton Embroidered Tee, at Marks and Spencer
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

Cotton Blend Tank Top, at MarksandSpencer
Smart and comfortable, this soft cotton blend tank top is a lightweight extra layer that's ideal for school

Travel Kettle with Cups, at Marks and Spencer
Includes 2 stowaway cups 0.4 litre capacity Safe, automatic on/off switch Element for easy cleaning Power consumption: 115V - 230V 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

Portfolio Leopard Print Shoulder Bag, at Marks and Spenser
Fashionable and practical, this leopard print shoulder bag is a useful accessory with bags of style!

2 Per Una Essentials Clover Embroidered Non Padded DD-G Bras, at M&S
Elegant and feminine, this pack of 2 stylish bras feature stretch lace fabric and a clover embroidered design. It's underwired and structured to give great support and a natural uplifted shape. Pretty everyday fashion

Classic Collection Waterfall Jersey Top, at Mark & Spencers
Ideal for everyday wear, this smart top is made from soft easycare fabric and the fit is comfortable and flattering. A fashionable and practical style

Insect Repellent Formula Wipes, at Marks and Spencer
Deet free Repels mosquitoes and other biting insects Formulated with children in mind Dermatologically tested

Marks&Spencer may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Household Insurance or Motor Insurance, but Marks n Spencer do indeed offer a comprehensive selection of financial products, all of which are competitively priced, and all of which you can purchase directly from the M+S Money website. With a simple, no-hassle service, you can compare features between a number of Marks & Spencers Money products and competitor's products, and sign up in just a few minutes.

Whether you're looking for savings products or M+S Money loans, credit cards or Household Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, M+S Money can save you both time and money, with comprehensive information available at a click.

Free insurance quotes are available online for all of M+S Money insurance products (Household Insurance, Motor Insurance, Travel Insurance, Wedding Insurance and Pet Insurance), or you may call if you wish to on the telephone number provided. Suffice to say that there is also plenty of information which you can download for each of the Marks & Spencer insurance products in document format too.