Five Duggar Family Facts You May Not Know

If you're a fan of large families, you're familiar with the Duggar Family. The Duggar parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, are successfully raising 18 children. The country got to know more about them and their lives with their show that has aired on the Discovery Health Channel and The Learning Channel, TLC.

Think you know everything about the Duggar Family? You may not. Here are five facts you may not know about the Duggar family.

Michelle Duggar takes chewable prenatal vitamins. For years Michelle Duggar said she took non-chewable prenatal vitamins, even if she wasn't pregnant. During those periods she was most likely nursing. One day during a doctor's appointment it would found that she had several undigested prenatal tables in her intestines. That's when she made the switch to chewable prenatal vitamins. She recommends that others mothers and mothers-to-be do the same to ensure they get the nutrients they need.

The Duggars don't have a mortgage. Even prior to their popularity with their television series, the Duggars learned the value of money by living debt free. Their first house was one Jim Bob Duggar purchased for $19,000 for himself and his new bride in 1984. That was the first and last mortgage the couple would have. An impressive feat considering they've supported 18 children over the years.

The Duggars didn't always live in a large house. At one point they lived in a 900-square-foot house with five small children. That takes a lot of dedication to be able to have a harmonious family live in such a tight space. Perhaps that experience helped prepare them to be more patient as the children continued to arrive.

Their first business was a car dealership. The couple moved from their first house to car lot where they lived and sold cars in their front yard. At the beginning of their business Jim Bob Duggar worked full time at a grocery store while Michelle Duggar sold cars during the day. They also started a tow truck company as one of the businesses they worked with over the years.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar dated for about eight months before agreeing to marry. Back in 1983 the Duggars didn't take much time knowing that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. They courted for several months and then Jim Bob Duggar asked for Michelle's hand in marriage. Considering the couple has been married for about 25 years in the midst of so many children, many people would consider the Duggar marriage a success.