How the Duggars Live Debt Free With 19 Kids
Every parent knows that children are expensive! With this mind, many have wondered how conservative Christian reality show parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar can afford 19.
Statistics say that on average it costs almost $250,000 to raise one child from birth to 18 years of age in the United States. For the Duggar family that would equate to a total of $4,750,000 to raise the entire brood. So how can this modest family manage?
The Duggars started out as entrepreneurs. Marrying at 19 and 17 with Jim Bob being the eldest, the couple began by selling used cars that Jim Bob did the repairs on. They followed this up with the launch of their own towing business.
Selling the auto businesses in 1994, the couple left to enter into real estate. By converting a former chicken hatchery into 10 commercial rental units they were able to open up their first stream of lucrative income.
Owning over 20 acres of property, their next great break came when a cell phone company approached them about putting a transmission tower on their land.
In addition, a nice size of their income today comes from their popular TLC show, "19 Kids and Counting." The show reportedly makes the family between $25,000 to $40,000 an episode.