---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I rationalize shop. I buy a dress because…"
description: "\"I rationalize shop. I buy a dress because I need change for gum.\" — Rita Rudner"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/rita-rudner-1679_change_i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because_2215779.png"
---

#  I rationalize shop. I buy a dress because I need change…

![“I rationalize shop. I buy a dress because I need change for gum.” quote by Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/rita-rudner-1679_change_i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because_2215779.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/rita-rudner-1679_change_i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because_2215779.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/rita-rudner-1679_change_i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because_2215779.png)

> “I rationalize shop. I buy a dress because I need change for gum.”

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The joke highlights irrational spending rationalized as a need for change, mocking consumer habits.

**In simple terms:** People often buy things they don’t need, calling it a change.

Key Takeaway

Question your purchases before spending.

Themes

consumerism humor irrationality

Mood

witty lighthearted

Type

satire observational

When to use this quote

- shopping sprees
- budgeting
- gift buying

Key Concepts

behavioral economics social commentary

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “change for gum” symbolize for you?
- Can humor help you curb impulse buys?

A Different Perspective

Humor may downplay serious financial concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Need a change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-a-change/)

## Related quotes

> [I always tell this story: When I started, the woman went to the store to buy a dress. She saw it in pink and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-renta/i-always-tell-this-story-when-i-started-the-woman-went-to-the-store/)

[Oscar de la Renta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-renta/)

> [“On the day of the party I walked down to Covent Garden at lunchtime to buy a dress, and on my way to Boules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/on-the-day-of-the-party-i-walked-down-to-covent-garden-at-lunchtime/)

[Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/)

> [“I start to think, 'It's awful being too poor to even buy my own dress for homecoming.' But that's instantly swept away by another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-peterson-haddix/i-start-to-think-it-s-awful-being-too-poor-to-even-buy-my-own-dress/)

[Margaret Peterson Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-peterson-haddix/)

> [“I’ll buy you a dress at half price, and hopefully half as much cloth was used and it’s twice as short as you’d prefer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-ll-buy-you-a-dress-at-half-price-and-hopefully-half-as-much-cloth/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [People want to look taller and thinner. No one says, 'Ooh! Let me buy that dress because it makes me feel matronly!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/people-want-to-look-taller-and-thinner-no-one-says-ooh-let-me-buy/)

[Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/)

> [i'm going to marry you. i thought you'd like to know in case you wanted to buy a dress or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/i-m-going-to-marry-you-i-thought-you-d-like-to-know-in-case-you/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [I think to an extent every human being needs to be redeemed somewhat or at least needs to look at themselves and say, 'I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-think-to-an-extent-every-human-being-needs-to-be-redeemed-somewhat/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

> [When you get the role, it's 'cause you know exactly how to play it, and they know that the way you're playing it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-george/when-you-get-the-role-it-s-cause-you-know-exactly-how-to-play-it-and/)

[Melissa George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-george/)

> [I need a life. I need a friend. I need a change. But nothing ever changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/i-need-a-life-i-need-a-friend-i-need-a-change-but-nothing-ever-changes/)

[Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/)

> [My default position is not to be an actor. My default position is to be a follower of Jesus Christ. If that means I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/my-default-position-is-not-to-be-an-actor-my-default-position-is-to/)

[Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/)

> [I'm losing myself trying to compete With everyone else instead of just being me Don't know where to turn I've been stuck in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-m-losing-myself-trying-to-compete-with-everyone-else-instead-of/)

[Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/)

> [I use the word totally too much. I need to change it up and use a word that is different but has the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-use-the-word-totally-too-much-i-need-to-change-it-up-and-use-a-word/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I am old, Gandalf. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed! Why, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-old-gandalf-i-don-t-look-it-but-i-am-beginning-to-feel-it-in-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [Your ability to rationalize your own bad deeds makes you believe that the whole world is as amoral as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/your-ability-to-rationalize-your-own-bad-deeds-makes-you-believe-that/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

## More by Rita Rudner

> [I worry about Las Vegas schools. I hear in math, they only teach them to count to 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-worry-about-las-vegas-schools-i-hear-in-math-they-only-teach-them/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [Going out to eat is expensive. I was out at one restaurant and they didn't have prices on the menu. Just faces with different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/going-out-to-eat-is-expensive-i-was-out-at-one-restaurant-and-they/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [Men are very confident people. Even a sixty-year-old man with no arms thinks he could play in the Super Bowl if he had to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-are-very-confident-people-even-a-sixty-year-old-man-with-no-arms/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [Envy the kangaroo. That pouch setup is extraordinary; the baby crawls out of the womb when it is about two inches long, gets into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/envy-the-kangaroo-that-pouch-setup-is-extraordinary-the-baby-crawls/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [The way a man looks at himself in a mirror will tell you if he can ever care about anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/the-way-a-man-looks-at-himself-in-a-mirror-will-tell-you-if-he-can/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [They usually have two tellers in my local bank, except when it's very busy, when they have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/they-usually-have-two-tellers-in-my-local-bank-except-when-it-s-very/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [When you're a dancer, you start with the basics. You don't all of a sudden do a grand jete and pirouette. You start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/when-you-re-a-dancer-you-start-with-the-basics-you-don-t-all-of-a/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [My Vegas act is how I make my money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/my-vegas-act-is-how-i-make-my-money/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [Men are self-confident because they grow up identifying with super-heroes. Women have bad self-images because they grow up identifying with Barbie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-are-self-confident-because-they-grow-up-identifying-with-super/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [We've begun to long for the pitter-patter of little feet - so we bought a dog. Well, it's cheaper, and you get more feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/we-ve-begun-to-long-for-the-pitter-patter-of-little-feet-so-we-bought/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [... life is broken down into these stages: you're born and you don't know how anything works; gradually you find out how everything works;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/life-is-broken-down-into-these-stages-you-re-born-and-you-don-t-know/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [We live in Los Angeles, where you are expected to move every two to four years, so people can see how well your career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/we-live-in-los-angeles-where-you-are-expected-to-move-every-two-to/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [A good place to meet a man is at the dry cleaner. These men usually have jobs and bathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/a-good-place-to-meet-a-man-is-at-the-dry-cleaner-these-men-usually/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [I have been doing leg lifts faithfully for about fifteen years, and the only thing that has gotten thinner is the carpet where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-have-been-doing-leg-lifts-faithfully-for-about-fifteen-years-and/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

[Explore all 217 Rita Rudner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

Phil Hogan

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I rationalize shop. I buy a dress because I need change for gum.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rita Rudner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because-i-need-change-for-gum/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because-i-need-change-for-gum/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/rita-rudner-1679_change_i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because_2215779.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/rita-rudner-1679_change_i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because_2215779.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/rita-rudner-1679_change_i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because_2215779.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I rationalize shop. I buy a dress because I need change for gum.” — Rita Rudner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rita Rudner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I rationalize shop. I buy a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because-i-need-change-for-gum/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-rationalize-shop-i-buy-a-dress-because-i-need-change-for-gum/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
