A mortgage adviser’s word of warning to prospective homebuyers this week has got hundreds of thousands of people reconsidering the references they use to transfer money.
Transferring money to pay back anything from holidays and takeaways, to drinks, taxi fares and everything in between is a pretty common occurrence within most friendship groups, and let’s be honest, we’ve all thought it was funny to crack a bit of a joke in the reference box when sending over our share too.
Sure, perhaps the more sensible of the friendship group will actually put ‘Chinese Takeaway’ or ‘Ibiza Flight’ as the reference.
Others will probably opt for ‘money for drugs’ or ‘sex’ instead.
No matter much these highly-questionable references makes us laugh though, a mortgage advisor has taken to TikTok this week to warn against it if you’re hoping to get on the property ladder anytime soon.
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KAG Financial (@kagfinancial) has informed her followers on the popular video sharing app that a minor gag might not actually be worth it in the long run when it comes to applying for a mortgage as, besides sender and recipient of the cash being in on the reference joke, so are the banks and lenders.
During the 13-second video – which has already amassed nearly half a million views, over 24.4k likes and nearly 1000 comments – KAG Financial explains: “Remember the money you transferred your pal? We see it and so does the lender.
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“‘Money for drugs’ is probably not the best thing to use. (This is actually tame compared to what we see).
“Avoid joke references.”
And then, when people asked if it could actually harm their chances of securing a mortgage, the company responded to say: “For those of you asking how far they check back – most of the time it’s three months, your application is also only affected if it’s something illegal”.
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“For those of you asking how far they check back – most of the time it’s three months, your application is also only affected if it’s something illegal” they said.
Some took the advice one board, as one commented to say: “Jesus, some of mine are horrific.”
Another added: “And this is why I will never ever ever get a mortgage”.
Featured Image – TikTok / KAG Financial
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
You can now have a private sleepover amongst all the history inside Manchester Museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum is now offering one lucky family the chance to have a sleepover with Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex.
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
The Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery is one of the most iconic spaces within Manchester Museum.
Having opened to the public all the way back in 1888, it’s part of the museum’s original building designed by celebrated Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
You can now have a private sleepover inside Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
“We can’t be completely sure what happens when the sun goes down in our Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, because nobody has ever spent the night in there before, but we can only imagine the kind of fun that can be had with Stan the T. rex and his friends,” said Dean Whiteside, Head of Commercial and Operations at Manchester Museum.
“This is a chance to be a part of museum history and enjoy the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t usually buy.
“At the same time, Manchester Museum is a charity so, by getting behind this initiative, you’ll be helping to support vital work that impacts the lives of people across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Fancy it then? You can enter the prize draw by buying a ticket for £5 from the Manchester Museum Shop, with each ticket counting as one entry and the winner set to be chosen at random from all valid entries.
The prize draw is now open and closes on Monday 28 September 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
20th August 2021 
