In this article, the results of the investigation, whose objective was to understand the consumption habits of teenagers in the province of Barcelona, Spain, are described. Due to the diagnostic and exploratory character of the investigation, 232 students from diverse schools participated in the sample. The investigation is situated in a qualitative paradigm, utilizing an ex post facto research methodology of collecting descriptions through polls; the instrument of data recollection is a questionnaire with close-ended questions. The main results indicate that teenagers exhibit some moderate consumption habits, since they do not consider themselves consumerists. The teenagers perceive that these habits moderately influence the overall family consumption, ensuring that they have received enough education to understand consumption. However, it is necessary to embark on an education for consumption through a pedagogical proposition that would help teenagers in becoming critical thinkers when facing the society of consumption in which they live, and, in that manner, be prepared to be responsible citizens when facing the problems that we are exposed to in the XXI Century.

teenagers; consumption; habits; high school education; consumer education; Spain