Jinger Vuolo Recalls the Restaurant the Duggar Family Regularly Frequented and Why
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are considered relatively wealthy now, thanks to their reality TV shows, real estate portfolio, and other endeavors. Even without their TLC paychecks, the aging couple seems perfectly comfortable financially. It wasn’t always that way, though. When Jinger Vuolo was relatively young, the Duggar family didn’t have much money and often relied on their church for donations. Still, Jinger insists, they managed to go out to eat, but it was often at one specific location, and the Duggar family picked it for a particular reason.
Jinger Vuolo explains why her family often dined at a taco joint
When you have a dozen siblings and only one parent making an income, you likely don’t enjoy many luxuries. Jinger Vuolo confirmed that her early childhood wasn’t full of excess. Sitting down at a restaurant wasn’t a common occurrence. Simply put, it was cost-prohibitive with so many members of her family. Still, she insists they did manage to make it to sit-down eateries once in a while.
During a recent episode of The Jinger and Jeremy Podcast, Jinger recalled being allowed to eat out with her family at a local taco restaurant called Taco Tico because they offered a weekend special. She remembered that she and her siblings were allowed to order as many tacos as they wanted because they were just 10 cents each. They were not allowed to order soft drinks, though.
While Taco Tico is an authentic eatery with multiple locations, the only one close to where Jinger grew up is in Texarkana, Texas. Jinger did not mention which location she and the Duggar family frequented when they had little money, but there was a Taco Tico in Springdale, Arkansas, until at least 2007. The eatery was prominently displayed on Google Maps in 2007. By 2013, when Google captured new images of the area, the taco outpost had been replaced with a donut shop. It is now a Cronuts Donuts location.
The Duggars saved money in other ways, too
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar didn’t just save money by feeding their kids cheap tacos as a treat. By the time they welcomed their last child, they had 19 mouths to feed. Their money-saving tactics bled into every facet of their lives. The couple was deeply committed to buying used items instead of new ones. They regularly shopped in thrift stores and outfitted their children in secondhand clothing and shoes.
The family also hunted for deals on used cars, cheap furniture, and even discarded kitchen appliances. During one of the family’s early specials, Jim Bob Duggar revealed he bought commercial kitchen equipment at auction. They kept food at home simple, too. Casseroles were often on the menu, and while the Duggars insisted they loved their dinner meals, family followers suspect that salt-laden casseroles were served because they were cheap and calorie-dense. The family also avoided spending money on school, school activities, and babysitters.
Jinger and Jeremy aren’t following in Jim Bob and Michelle’s footsteps in that way. The duo often shares photos of themselves eating out, and 10-cent talks are never on the menu. They enjoy luxury items, and their clothing is certainly not purchased at thrift shops. Things have changed.
