Please let me encourage you! When you see an older person that has "made it", has the house, new car, decent vacations, wardrobe, etc., most often it's because when they were your age, they had to struggle. I had massive student loans. I worked six days and five nights for fourteen years to pay them off. Not because I'm some massively motivated freak, just like you, I did whatever I needed to get by honestly and reasonably. Learning to work, and to work when you are discouraged and tired, is a very, very useful skill. I kept working after my loans were paid off. It becomes a good habit. Now, I have a full-time job and own three businesses outside of that. The house is paid off. The credit rating gets me excellent car loans. If you can keep it together, and not get discouraged, it pays off. Help others whenever you can, it makes your own misery less. Make sure you purchase some tiny luxuries for yourself along the way, it keeps you from losing heart, whether it's the occasional meal at a nice restaurant, or expensive chocolates, doesn't matter, but try to avoid daily extravagances, like overpriced boutique coffee or media subscriptions that you're too tired to use. Don't give up!

can the places you work afford to give you raises? if not, you might already be doing this, but update your resumes to highlight your skills and apply for new jobs. its definitely not an easy thing to accomplish (especially with the state of things today) but if you want to be paid more and maybe work a little less its the way to go. things will change, and they do get easier, but they definitely suck right now. keep pushing forward and you will make it.