Sex and the City style sees women splurge on designer handbags

Influenced by over a decade of Sex and the City fashion, a woman in her 30's will have splashed out an average £113 on her favourite must-have bag, reveals research by Churchill Home Insurance.

With a typical thirty-something's handbag containing a mobile phone, house and car keys, a purse containing cash and cards, perfume, lip gloss, hand cream and a diary, the true value of their bag could be in the region of £1,800.

Our ‘have it all' culture has influenced our shopping habits, with over a third of all women (37 per cent) buying their most expensive bag at first sight. At the other end of the scale, unlike Carrie Bradshaw, women in their 30's are more likely to save up until they can afford their designer object of desire, with one in ten (9 per cent) saving up for between three months and a year before buying their ‘It' bag.

However, once they have the bag, there is a constant need to be vigilant, as one in five women (20 per cent) has been the victim of a bag-snatcher.  One in twenty women (5 per cent) in their 20's has had their handbag stolen in the past 12 months alone.  Given the contents of the bag, victims of theft can face a hefty bill to replace it and its contents.

The most common locations that handbags are stolen from include:

The pub (14 per cent)
At work (12 per cent)
Out shopping (12 per cent)
In a club (12 per cent)
From the car (8 per cent)

Claire Foster, spokesperson for Churchill, says: "Many women save up for months to be able to buy the latest Mulberry or Marc Jacobs bag, but it's all too easy to take our eye off our bag when we're out in a bar or on the dance floor. Remembering to keep an eye out for thieves is crucial, as it could end up costing a small fortune to replace your bag and possessions, not to mention the stress factor."

Churchill's top tips for handbag security:

Keep your bag close to your person and ensure that it is fastened securely

Use handbag clips in public places such as bars and restaurants

Use secure lockers at the gym or pool

Only carry necessities for that day

Don't leave your handbag unattended in a parked car

Don't carry personal documents around alongside your credit cards and house keys as it makes it easier for a thief to steal your identity or break into your home without having to force entry

Churchill Home Insurance offers personal possessions cover, which insures against accidental damage, loss and theft of to handbags or other possessions, such as jewellery and iPods, when taken out of the home. With Brits taking possessions worth a significant amount of money out of the home on a regular basis, it's important to ensure you have appropriate insurance in place.