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 Mark's & Spencer 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 Mark's & Spencer, through its M&S Finance 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 Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

M&S Finance 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 Finance 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 Spencer 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, Sainsbury's, or Tescos:

• 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 Finance UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

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 Finance. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Buildings Insurance and Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at M & S than you might imagine.

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

HP TouchSmart tx2-1160ea Notebook, at Marks & Spencer
Processor: AMD Turion™ X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor RM-75 Processor speed: 2.2 Ghz, Level 3 cache 1 MB Memory: 3072 MB (1 x 1024 MB + 1 x 2048 MB), Supports up to 4 GB DDR2 memory Hard Drive: 320 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 5400 rpm up to 9 GB partition for system recovery Display: 12.1'' Diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display with Integrated Multi Touch-screen (finger and digitizer pen optimized) Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 Graphics Card: ATI Radeon™ HD 3200 Graphics with 64MB Display Cache Memory Up to 1470 MB Total Available Graphics Memory DVD Drive: Lightscribe Super Multi DVD Writer (+/-R +/-RW) with Double Layer support Memory slot: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards Camera: Webcam with integrated microphone Interfaces: 3 USB 2.0, 1 VGA port, 1 RJ45, 1 RJ-11 ethernet connector Expansion Port 3, 1 Headphone out w/ SPDIF Digital Audio, 1 mic-in, consumer IR Connectivity: Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth wireless networking, One ExpressCard/34 slot Media Software: HP MediaSmart Suite, Windows Media Player, Windows Photo Gallery, DVD Play, Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Windows Media center, HP Games Console with hours of free game play Other Software: Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 60-Day Trial Version, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Windows Mail, Adobe Reader, HP MediaSmart Suite, Digital Persona Fingerprint reader software, HP Total Care Advisor Dimensions: L22.40 x W30.60 x H3.73cm Battery: 4-cell and 8-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery Weight: 1.963kg

25 Lavender Room Scenters, at Marks & Spencers
Pack of 25 Lavender scented Burns upto 4 hours each, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

The Dark Knight DVD, at M&S
Release Date: 2008-12-08, Rating Suitable for 15 years and over,

British Herb Glazed and Roasted Sliced Chicken Platter, at Marks and Spencer
Serves 8 Ready to eat Suitable for freezing 440g As featured on page 16 in the food to order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 5 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

The Floral Collection Rose Hand Care Set, at Marks and Spencer
2 part set Contains hand wash and hand & body lotion Hand and body lotion enriched with shea butter 2 x 250ml

Chocolate Chrome Droplet Chandelier, at Marks and Spencer
5-arm design Chocolate finish Multi-faceted glass droplets H 98 x Diam 48cm Bulb: 5 x 60W E14 candle This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Copper Base 3-Tier Steamer, at Marks&Spencer
Stainless steel for maximum durability and shine Glass straining lid Riveted handles with silicone inserts for comfort and safety High performance copper base for even heat distribution Diam: 20cm Capacity: 3.8 litre Suitable for all cooker types except induction, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

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

3/4 Sleeve Stripe Design Top, at Marks & Spenser
This fab 3/4 sleeve top features a stunning stripe design. A sophisticated new look, perfect for this season

Silk Rich Spot Bow Tie & Cummerbund, at Marks & Spencers
Stylish and sophisticated, this luxurious silk rich set adds an elegant finishing touch

Classic Collection Textured Shirt with Camisole, at Marks&Spencer
Ideal for everyday wear, this smart shirt with a camisole is made from soft easycare fabric and the fit is comfortable and flattering. A fashionable and practical style

Flat Front Straight Leg Plain Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
No more trips to the drycleaners! These smart, fashionable trousers can be machine washed and tumble dried

Château Panchille Bordeaux Supérieur 2005 - Case of 12, at Mark & Spencers
Style: Full bodied Grape variety: Merlot, Cabernet-Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by 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

Padded Plunge Bra, at Mark & Spensers
Everyone's skin tone is different, so after some research into skin tones we've come up with Body Nudes, a range of flattering shades to suit everyone. Body Nudes is soft and comfy with no visible lumps or bumps, so you can be sure your clothes will look their best

Cocktail 21st Birthday Card, at Mark & Spensers
Cover Text: 21 Inside Message: wishing you a birthday full of fun! Approx size: 125 x 177mm

Classic Straw Hat, at Marks and Spencer
Keep your cool in this straw sun hat, a summer and holiday essential

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

Playmobil Horse Trailer Toy, at MarksandSpencer
Suitable for ages 4+ Includes two horses Removable vehicle roof This product conforms to the EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Blue Harbour Real Cool & Fresh Polo Shirt, at Marks and Spencers
Our pure cotton polo shirts make summer dressing a breeze. Wear them with shorts and sandals for a perfect warm weather look

M&S 8 in 1 Accessories Pack for Nintendo™ Wii™, at Mark's & Spencer
8 accessories compatible with Nintendo™ Wii™ Includes accessories for Wii™ tennis, Wii™ baseball, Wii™ golf and Wii™ Mario cart Also includes 2 padlock straps, protector cover and controller grip for Wii™ control panel Please note- this product is not made or endorsed by Nintendo™ 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

6 Jewel Hair Slides, at Marks & Spenser
Add a pretty finishing touch with this fashionable set of 6 hair slides

Older Boys' Limited Knitted Beanie Hat, at Marks and Spenser
Warm and comfy, this knitted beanie hat is ideal for chilly days

Per Una Pure Cotton Zesty Floral Skirt, at MarksandSpencer
A casual knee length skirt in pure soft cotton. Embroidered floral details give it the Per Una touch

M&S Sandwich Toaster, at Marks and Spencer
Interlocking handle Non-stick sandwich plate Diagonal sandwich divider Non slip feet for added stability Power on light showing that the unit is on and heating up Temperature ready light This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more 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, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Paladín Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo 2007 - Case of 12, at Marks and Spenser
Style: Dry Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo Country: Spain Closure: Screw cap Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 14.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.9 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.8 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Stormwear™ Padded Coat with Reflective Trim, at Marks n Spencer
Fashionable and practical, this warmly padded jacket is lined with fleece and treated with our unique Stormwear™ technology which repels water and stains. It features inside pockets and a reflective trim. Storm cuffs help keep arms warm and hold on gloves

Autograph Weekend Pure Cotton Double Breasted Knit Coat, at Marks & Spensers
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

2 Older Girls' Snoopy™ Crop Tops, at Marks & Spencer
A must for fans of Peanuts, these crop tops feature Snoopy™

Cotton Rich Transformers Hooded Top, at MarksandSpencer
Fans of Transformers will love this hooded top featuring embroidered motif. A practical, easycare style

Active Performance Sporty Jogging Bottoms, at Marks and Spencers
Perfect for active wear, these Performance jogging bottoms incorporate moisture management technology. The high-performance fabric draws moisture away from the skin to the surface, keeping you drier. Designed for a great fit and essential ease of movement

M&S Finance 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 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 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 Finance Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.