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

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 and Spencer 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.

Shopping for financial products at M&S Money UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Marks & Spenser 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 & Contents 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 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.

Indian Summer Pure Cotton Oven Mitt, at Marks & Spencers
Hanging loop Stripe design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Diamanté Square Photo Frame 13 x 18cm (5 x 7"), at Marks & Spencer
Rectanglular Aperture 5 x 7in H13 x 18cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Extra Large Pillar Candle, at Marks and Spencer
Plain Pillar shape H22 x Diam 8cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Gascogne Cuvée Spéciale 2008 - Case of 12, at Marks & Spencer
Style: Dry Grape variety: Colombard and Ugni Blanc Country of origin: France Closure: Synthetic closure Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 11.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 8.6 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.4 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Tapestry Throw, at M&S
Tapestry design Tasselled corners, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Multi Strand Molokai Choker Necklace, at Mark & Spencers
Necklace length: 43cm, extendable by 7cm Multi strand Assorted bead design

Black Silver Glass Photo Frame 20 x 25cm (8 x 10''), at Marks & Spencers
Contrast border Rectangular frame Aperture: 20 x 25cm (8 x 10''), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Flap Pocket Casual Cargo Trousers, at Marks & Spencer
Casual, relaxed cargos in pure soft cotton featuring multiple pockets

3 Pure Cotton Short Sleeve Tops, at Marks & Spencers
Cute and practical, this pack of 3 tops is great value. The soft cotton fabric will keep her happy and comfy

Classic Ceramic Glass Shelf, at Marks & Spencers
Glass shelf Ceramic and stainless steel design Wall mounted H6 x W63 x D10cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Lavender Lantern Candle, at Marks and Spencer
Lavender fragrance Natural and decorative botanicals Burns up to 4 hours, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Drum Stool, at Marks & Spensers
H43 x Diam 45cm (all dimensions are approximate) Cushion filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support 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 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 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

Pavilion 16-Piece Cutlery Set, at MarksandSpencer
16-piece set Includes 4 knives, 4 forks, 4 spoons and 4 teaspoons 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

First Readers Jack and the Beanstalk, at M+S
This popular story is part of the First Readers range. Jack thinks he's clever to sell their old cow for five magic beans. But Jack's in trouble as his mother thinks the beans are worthless and throws them away. Find out what happens next!

Sony Bravia 40'' KDL-40S5500 HD Ready LCD TV, at Mark & Spensers
HD Ready 1080p: Displays images in Full HD 1080p, the maximum resolution defined for HDTV use, when connected to an HD compatible device Display: LCD Sony Bravia Engine 2 with a 40 inch viewable screen and a display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels Dynamic Contrast: 33000:1 Integrated Digital & Cable Tuner: Watch digital TV with the integrated standard definition digital terrestrial tuner (MPEG-2, also receives analogue) Dimensions: With table stand: W99.6 x H66.3 x D25.9cm, without table stand: W99.6 x H61.2 x D10.9cm Weight: weight inc. stand 19kg, weight without stand 17kg Sound: Nicam stereo Connectors: HDMI™ Inputs x 3, HDMI™ PC Signal Capability, PC Input (15pin D-Sub) + Audio In, Component Inputs x 1, Composite Video In x 1, USB 2.0 Input, MiniJack (Head/Earphone) 3.5mm, PCMCIA Card Slot, RCA Audio Out, RF In, Scart Inputs (RGB) x 2 BRAVIA Engine 2: Enjoy images with impressive depth and clarity, optimal contrast, vibrant colours and truer-to life tones with BRAVIA ENGINE 2 24p True Cinema: Shows images at 24 frames per second just like a real cinema screen Picture Mode: Share your favourite photos and music on the big screen with the easy-to-use USB Photo Viewer and Music Player 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: 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 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 Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

3 Pure Cotton Assorted Words Tea Towels, at Marks & Spenser
3 part set Assorted words designs, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Nokia 6500 - T-Mobile Pay as you talk Mobile Phone, at Marks and Spencers
Maximum of 2 phones per customer may be purchased Talk time: Up to 3.5 hours Stand-by time: Up to 9 days Display: 2" (320 x 240 pixels) QVGA display supporting up to 16.7 million true colours Dimensions: 109.8 x 45 x 9.5mm Weight: 94g Bandwidth: GSM/EGSM: 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850/2100 Music and multimedia: Music player supports AAC, eAAC+, and MP3 audio formats, Video playback supports H.263, MPEG4, and 3GPP formats and codecs, Video streaming supports 3GPP and H.263 formats Camera and video: Image capture: JPEG, resolution of images: 1600 x 1200 pixels, video capture: MP4, Resolution of videos: QCIF/SQCIF, 176 x 144 pixels Browsing: xHTML browser over wTCP/IP stack supports WAP release 2.0, WML (WAP 2.0) browser Connectivity: Micro USB, 2.0 + enhanced data rate (EDR), Remote SyncML data synchronization via Bluetooth Data transfer: WCDMA, GPRS, EGPRS and Dual band 3G technology Java™ applications: Java MIDP 2.0 games and applications Messaging and email: MMS, SMS, AMS and Email client supports POP3 and IMAP4 Memory: 1 GB internal memory with up to 920 MB user free memory Personal information management: calendar, to-do list, and notes, alarm clock, stopwatch, countdown timer and calculator Ringtones: Video, MP3, MP4, eAAC+, AAC, and WMA, Polyphonic

Pure Cotton Spot Print Mock Layer Top, at Marks & Spencer
Cute and comfy, this pure cotton mock layer top is outstanding value

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Hooded Ireland Top, at Marks and Spencer
Relaxed and comfortable, this fashionable long sleeve hooded top is made from soft cotton and features an embroidered Ireland motif. A practical easycare style

M&S 1200 DECT Digital Cordless Phone, at Mark & Spensers
DECT - Digitally enhanced cordless phones provide crystal clear sound quality, increased talk time and range coupled with increased security 3 line display 40 name and number phonebook Up to 8 hours talk time and up to 80 hours standby Caller display stores information on the last 20 calls 8 ringer melodies Last 10 number redial Adjustable ringer and earpiece volume Call duration display 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

Mosaic Coffee Table, at Marks and Spencer
H45 x Diam 87cm Circular top Mosaic design Metal frame Suitable for all-weather outdoor use Assembly required This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Tag & Flowers Sister Birthday Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover text: Sister, Hope your Birthday is as special as you are Inside mesage: With Love This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 215 x 150mm

M&S 19'' HD Ready LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player - Silver, at Mark's & 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 inch flat screen, 1440 x 900 pixels Contrast Ratio: 500:1, Dynamic Contrast: 4000:1 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: H41 x W46 x D20.5cm Sound: Nicam stereo Connectors: 1 x HDMI input, 1 x Scart socket DVD Player: Built-in DVD player 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: 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 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 Use wall mount T042100 to perfectly mount this TV This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Casual Centre Crease Wheel Belt, at M+S
This leather belt is ideal for wearing with casual styles

3 Pairs of Cotton Rich Trainer Liner Socks, at Mark & Spensers
Designed to hide neatly inside your trainers, these breathable cotton rich socks are made with added stretch for comfort, and have a cute pom pom detail

Classic Chocolate Rose Cake, at M&S
Serves 144 Sponge cake: all-butter sponge filled with buttercream and raspberry jam. Cake weight 5.45kg. Can be eaten up to 5 days after collection Chocolate cake: A rich chocolate cake filled with milk chocolate ganache. Cake weight 5.45kg. Can be eaten up to 5 days after collection Choose from milk chocolate or white chocolate icing Set of three cakes: Small diam 15cm, Medium diam 20cm, Large diam 25cm Total cake height: 26.5cm (each tier H6.5cm) Not suitable for nut allergy sufferers Suitable for vegetarians Comes in a box suitable for storing the cake before serving As featured on page 59 of the Food to Order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 21 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Autograph Wool Blend Plain Black Waistcoat, at Marks & Spencer
Add this finely tailored Autograph waistcoat to your formal wear for an extra touch of style and refinement

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Toy Story Top, at Marks and Spencer
Fans of Toy Story will love this pure cotton top featuring the popular characters. A practical, easycare style

Oscar Wardrobe, at Marks and Spenser
H180 x W96 x D55cm 1 drawer Hanging rail and 2 shelves Delivered flatpack due to size 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

Woodspice Aftershave, at Marks n Spencer
Aftershave 100ml

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 & 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 & Contents Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.