When you're shopping at Mark's & Spencer 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 Buildings & Contents Insurance and Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks & Spenser 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."

M&S 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 M&S 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 Spencers 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 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 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 M&S Money UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

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 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 Buildings & Contents 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 & Contents 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.

Green Butterfly Seed Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover Text: ...may all your birthday wishes come true Inside Message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 174 x 126mm

Set of 3 Rococo Style Photo Frames 5.1 x 7.6cm (2 x 3"), at Mark & Spensers
Set of 3 Rococo style Option to stand or hang Dimensions: 5.1 x 7.6cm (2 x 3"), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Zip fastening Washbag, at Marks&Spencer
Stylish and practical, this washbag is a well designed travel essential

Light Control Smooth Mesh Trim Body, at Marks and Spencer
Look slimmer in seconds! This light control body gently shapes your figure all over for a smoother, sleeker silhouette

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Space Dog T-Shirt, at Marks n Spencer
Fun and fashionable, this pure cotton long sleeve dog t-shirt is outstanding value!

Regal Twist Silver Necklace, at Marks and Spencers
Twisted strands Clasp fastening Length: 46cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Filigree Design Sunglasses, at Marks and Spencers
These elegantly understated sunglasses will never go out of style. A fabulously versatile summer essential

Non Iron Short Sleeve Check Shirt, at Marks & Spensers
Smart and innovative, this easycare shirt has a special finish on the fabric and is cleverly constructed to make it non-iron. A great time saver, ideal for work wear

Silver Plated Abalone Trio Stud Earrings, at Marks and Spenser
3 pairs Butterfly stud fastening Abalone inlay design Assorted designs

Classic Collection Quilt Button Embroidered Bed Jacket, at Marks & Spencer
Pretty and feminine, this embroidered bed jacket is made from soft fabric for a comfortable night's sleep

Bold Stripe Cushion with Recycled Filling, at Mark's & Spencer
Rectangular shape Stripe design L60cm x W43cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

2 Autograph Fine Stripe Slips, at Marks and Spencer
A comfortable, easy to care for fabric teams up with a stripe design here to create a stylish addition to your day to day underwear drawer

Text Squares Dad Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Happy birthday dad Inside message: With love on your special day Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Satin Spot Print Shirt with Belt, at M&S
This fab short sleeve shirt features a stunning spot and empire line design. A sophisticated new look, perfect for this season

Lion Rug, at M & S
Hand woven Luxuriously deep pile Super soft Small: L140 x W80cm Medium: L180 x W120cm Large: L230 x W160cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Silver Plated Paisley Stretch Bracelet, at Marks & Spencer
Stretch style Diamant detail

Footglove™ Widefit Leather Toepost Flip Flops, at Marks and Spencers
Flat sole Stitch detail Thong style Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Pure Cotton Retro Spot Pyjamas, at M & S
Soft and breathable, Pure cotton pyjamas are the natural choice for a comfortable night's sleep

M&S 4GB SD Memory Card, at Mark & Spencers
Read (MB /s): 18MB Write (MB /s): 6MB Available capacity: 3890MB 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

Autograph Pure Cashmere Block Stripe Wrap, at Marks & Spensers
Sophisticated and modern, this block stripe wrap is made from pure cashmere for the ultimate in luxuriously soft knitwear

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Le Charmois 2005 - Case of 6, at Marks & Spencer
Style: Dry Grape variety: Chardonnay Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol volume: 13.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.1 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.7 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

5 Pairs of Younger Boys' Assorted Design Socks, at Marks and Spencers
Brighten up his underwear drawer with these fashionable assorted design socks made from soft breathable cotton blend fabric

Luxury Single Breasted 2 Button Plain Jacket, at Marks n Spencer
Hours of handcrafting have gone into this superior quality suit for authentic tailored style. Every detail has been carefully considered to give a luxurious look and feel

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Herringbone Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Smart and stylish, this long sleeve herringbone shirt is made from pure cotton

Autograph Linen Blend Short Sleeve Embroidered Shirt, at Marks&Spencer
Stylish and contemporary, this embroidered shirt is part of our luxurious Autograph collection. The fabric has been created exclusively for us to tie in with this seasons key looks, so you wont find it anywhere else

Arched Overmantle Mirror, at Marks and Spencer
Free standing Arch shape Ornate frame design H72.5 x W105.5cm This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Glitter Roses Wedding Card, at Marks&Spencer
Cover text: Wedding Inside message: Wishing you a wonderful day This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx. size: 150 x 150mm

Harvard Body Splash, at Marks and Spencers
Fragranced body splash 200ml Splash into the palm of your hand, then apply liberally over your body Avoid contact wit the eyes. Do not apply to broken, irritated or sensitive skin This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Cyclone Summer Hat, at Marks & Spensers
Keep your cool in this cyclone sun hat, a summer and holiday essential

5 Luxury Multi Stripe Handkerchiefs, at Marks & Spensers
Luxuriously soft handkerchiefs in pure cotton

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 Spencers are so useful. M&S Money financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks & Spensers 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.