children ?????????

I certainly don't understand it either. And it's not just the financial impact - how do the parents devote any significant amount of meaningful time and attention to the children individually? If this is the family I've read about before (Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar), I remember them mentioning that a lot of the parenting responsibilities fall on the older children. That's just sad. What a travesty to force upon those children in the name of something like 'we'll welcome more children as long as God blesses us with them'. Nuts.

It is actually simple- when people have families of that size, everyone in the community chips in and donates used clothing etc, reducing that bill. Meals are casseroles, all the time, no one's having steak dinners. Colleges give out scholarships and grants to big families too. I know the family you're talking about- they are debt free, which helps tremendously, and made due with a TINY home until they could build their new one debt free, despite all those kids.

I live in a very religious community (I'm not part of the religious aspect here where families commonly have 8-14 kids. People buy used, pass things down, and don't spend on thrills.

Someone above said 'some family's are built on love not budget'- that's a nice idea, but you still have to feed, clothe and provide medical care for all those kids. Last I looked,

'love' didn't pay my mortgage or grocery bill.

It would be hard for the average person to afford to raise that many and it isn't as common as it use to be. I know when my grandparents and even my dad was growing up it was popular to have atleast 10 if not more but now people just don't have the time or money to do that. I will say that rich people could still do it and even some farmers that produce good crops could because they wouldn't be buying the food from the stores. There are ways i guess for people to do it just not the average everyday family.

Very easy in the UK, the country will pay from our taxes. Usually far in excess of what is needed and if one of the parents started to work he would lose all his wages from benifit. Once on the benifits ladder they daren't step off it.

Everything comes free, two houses made into one for them, TV bust - give them a new one, etc etc.

The UK is a Nanny Country and has gone completely barmey.

I don't know if you have seen the tv shows about that family, but they are extremely frugal, and take advantage of every resource to save money.

Every time I feel exhausted by caring for my 18 month old daughter, I remember that this lovely lady takes care of SEVENTEEN, and does just fine!

I know it is difficult, but helps to really really be judicious with the spending.

They can't. They rely on the community to make up the difference.

Just think of all the population those kids are going to produce when they grow up and start popping out the babies!!

Good question. It said the husband used to be a state representative. Maybe they're living off the government.

That is a good question. Apparently they are debt-free in a huge house and spend wisely. But I still don't know what the father does for a living. I would like to know that.

I came from a family of 14, and you do everything to make end meet. and with small family when they make food, Most of there food is put in the trash cans.

well i suppose they have sponsors, since they are kinda miraculous. the state government probably gives them some extra money. or just plain good jobs.