The recent global economic downturn, coupled with the rising cost of basic commodities and services, increasing debt and persisting unemployment, has meant hard times for many. In such a context, it is imperative that South Africans have a basic knowledge of money matters and are able to make appropriate choices to ensure their immediate and longer-term needs. BEN ROBERTS AND JARÉ STRUGWIG present findings from an ongoing collaborative project aimed at measuring and monitoring levels of financial literacy, both within the country and relative to other nations.