
We get a clothing allowance every 6 months because Fire Resistant Clothing is required on an oil pad. That's enough to buy a coat. I don't work on the pads so I just got a pair of pants, a shirt, a hoodie and a face hood in case I should ever have to go to one. I'm f**k if it's really cold, but I bought the hoodie big enough to fit over some layers so the FRC will be on the outer layer as required. Youngest's employer supplies one uniform shirt to work in food service. She washes it everyday along with the black pants she must purchase herself. Her shoes are required to be leather by her employer and steel toed(required by ME). I bought her a pair for $50.
I am required to wear steel toed shoes that must be replaced every 6 months to 1 year. My X gets $100 a year boot allowance. I get nothing. Decent boots that hold up and don't cause back damage run $120 to $150 for me, for him and his size 13 clods is about $250. We are in WY and because of our jobs they have to be weather resistant and stand up to oil, grease and diesel fuel and be able to tolerate use on rough surfaces. Walmart just won't do.
I'm a mechanic. I supply my own tools and get no allowance even though I need specialized tools that most folks wouldn't normally buy for personal use and locking tool boxes to keep the f**k at work from stealing my shit even though their shit is provided by the general contractor because they don't want another world renowned sub contractor f**k up out on one of the pads.
So, ya, I think congress could take a few cuts if not just to save money to get a better understanding of what life is like for the people they are supposedly representing.