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 and Spencers, through its M&S Financial Services website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Car 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.

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Financial Services. Not least of these is Marks & Spensers Standard Car Insurance. With M&S Financial Services you can keep the cost of your Car Insurance down by choosing Standard cover, over Premier Cover. UK Vehicle can then be added to your policy as optional extras, if you wanted to.

If you're thinking of adding both Breakdown Cover and Motor Legal Protection, then it would cost less to upgrade to Premier Car Insurance cover from M&S Financial Services, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Car Insurance policies on offer from Marks and Spenser, and these include: Courtesy car (subject to availability); Loss, theft, damage and destruction of vehicle; Loss or damage to personal property in vehicle; Personal accident cover up to £10,000; Windscreen cover (£75 excess); a 24 hour claims service, and many other options as standard on each policy. In short, with Car Insurance from M&S Finance, you get more, and you pay less.

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 Mark & Spencers are so useful. M&S Financial Services financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks & Spenser 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 Financial Services 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 Financial Services Buildings & Contents Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

Girls' Limited Pointelle Hat & Gloves, at Marks & Spensers
Snug and cosy, this cute hat and gloves set is a fashionable choice for chilly weather

125 Years Luxury Wool Rich Flat Front Trousers, at Mark & Spencers
Part of the Commemorative Collection, celebrating 125 years of M&S. Fabulous vintage style inspired by our archives

Marina 300 Waterproof Two-Way Radios, at Marks and Spencers
Waterproof up to 1 meter Dust proof and shock resistant Range up to 2 miles (3km) depending on environment and terrain Up to 8 channel combinations Backlit LCD Adjustable volume control Rechargeable Low battery warning Belt clip This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Château de Clairefont Margaux 2005 - Case of 6, at Marks & Spencer
Style: Full Bodied Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Petit Verdot Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.8 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

Small Tank Round Vase, at Marks and Spencer
Ideal for displaying flowers or even on its own, the distinctive design of this elegant glass vase provides an elegant focal point for any bare space

LED Light Collection Floating Waterlily, at Mark & Spensers
Water lily design Decoarative lighting Floating feature for table top H5.5 x Diam 9cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Plain Jogging Bottoms, at Marks and Spenser
With added stretch for essential ease of movement, these comfy and practical joggers feature a decorative drawstring and are great for active workouts or relaxing in style

Blue Harbour Real Cool & Fresh Pure Linen Short Sleeve Check Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Relaxed and stylish, this check shirt is cut for a great fit. It's made from pure linen so it feels cool and comfortable to wear

Blue Harbour Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Check Shirt, at Marks and Spencers
This pure cotton shirt has been dyed using a special process to give an authentic washed down look which will fade fashionably with time and wear. Colour variations make each garment unique

Kitchen Corner Base Unit, at Mark's & Spencer
H87.5 x W87 x D87cm Delivered flatpack due to size, some self-assembly required. Delivered boxed to your door. You will need to unpack, assemble and position the item yourself This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Suede Deck Shoes, at Marks & Spensers
Round toe Slip on Flat sole

Diamanté Square Photo Frame 25 x 20cm (8 x 10"), at Marks & Spencers
Aperature 20 x 25cm (8 x 10 in) H8 x W10, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Rich Chunky Knit Cardigan, at Mark & Spencers
Contemporary and casual, this long sleeve cardigan is made with cool comfortable cotton and features a chunky knit for a fashionable look

White Ceramic Collection Toilet Brush, at Marks and Spencer
Cylindrical holder Ceramic vase Plain H39 x Diam 10cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Weekend Cotton Rich Bootleg Jeans, at Marks and Spencers
Part of Autograph Weekend's Sloane trend. Casual yet sophisticated, this is weekend dressing at its most stylish. Featuring a cool colour palette of crisp navy, neutrals and red, this is an effortlessly chic look for the new season

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Cardigan, at Marks & Spencer
Soft and comfy, this lightweight knitted pure cotton cardigan is outstanding value. A fashionable easycare style

Autograph Glass Sphere Table Lamp, at M&S
Fabric shade Glass sphere feature Round base, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Stripe Leg Joggers, at Marks & Spencer
Relaxed and comfortable, these casual joggers are made from soft cotton rich fabric and feature a pull tie fastening waist. A practical easycare choice

Petite Double Button Bootleg Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
Fashionable and fabulous, bootcuts flatter curves and make legs look longer. This pair sits on the waist and is designed to give a shapely feminine silhouette. Added stretch gives the perfect fit. Specially designed and perfectly proportioned for the petite frame

Blue Harbour Ultimate Linen Stripe Shirt, at Marks and Spenser
Relaxed and stylish, this short sleeve stripe shirt is cut for a great fit. It's made from pure linen so it feels cool and comfortable to wear

Big & Tall Single Breasted Suedette Jacket, at Mark's & Spencer
Specially proportioned for big and tall men, this suedette jacket is designed to give a flattering, comfortable fit

Blue Harbour Pure Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Working well with jeans or joggers, the versatile appeal of this easy to care for pure cotton T-shirt makes it a practical choice for weekend and leisure wear

°Climate Control 4.5 Tog Duvet, at Mark's & Spencer
4.5 tog The coolest of all duvets, designed for summer use Not too hot, not too cold, just right™ Absorbs body heat, releasing when your body needs it keeps you in a comfort zone all night long Made using outlast technology, originally developed by NASA Comes in single (3ft), double (4ft 6in), king-size (5ft) and super king-size (6ft) Which tog? Tog measures the warmth of a duvet based on its ability to trap warm air. The higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. The perfect tog is a personal choice which can depend upon you and your home, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Volpaia Balifico 2004 - Case of 6, at Marks & Spencers
Style: Dry Grape variety: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon Country of origin: Italy Closure: Natural cork Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.8 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

Blue Harbour Funnel Zip Neck Fleece, at Marks and Spencer
Relaxed and comfortable, this funnel zip neck fleece is outstanding value!

Girls' Limited Cotton Rich Ruffle Skirt with Leggings, at Marks & Spencer
Part of Girls' Limited, a contemporary casual collection in trend-conscious styles and soft comfortable fabrics, designed for easy layering. Perfect for stylish girls who love looking fashionable

Pure Cotton Ruffle Front Jersey Top, at Mark & Spencers
Smart and stylish, this jersey top is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a ruffled front

Older Boys' Bart Simpson Graffiti Mule Slippers, at Mark & Spencers
Round toe Bart Simpson motif Slip on THE SIMPSONS ™ & 2006 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Silver Glitter Spot Luxury Wrap Pack, at Marks n Spencer
1 x sheet wrapping paper 1 x gift tag 1 x length ribbon Wrap: 685 x 98mm Tag: 115 x 65mm Ribbon: 2m

Bob The Builder : Real Trucks Sticker Activity Book, at Marks & Spencer
Join your favourite characters for some sticker scene fun! This title lets you use your imagination and lots of stickers to complete the scenes.

Besides Marks and Spencers Car Insurance, M&S Financial Services Credit Cards and other financial products, M&S Financial Services Buildings & Contents Insurance deserves particular mention, with it being particularly good value for money, and providing extra insurance cover that many UK insurance companies either don't provide at all, or would charge extra for.

With M&S Financial Services Premier Contents policy, for example, student's belongings are not only covered at home, but also at college or university. Additionally, dependent relatives are also covered if their belongings happen to be in a nursing home. Even better still, your Marks and Spencer purchases are also protected while you take them home.

Also, on both M&S Financial Services Premier Buildings & Contents Insurance and Standard Buildings & Contents Insurance policies, you can choose to include Contents Away From Home. This option would then provide valuable cover all of your personal belongings on a worldwide basis.