School counselor trying for PSLF but payment of $748 has me questioning how to manage

Being a “life long learner” comes with a hefty price tag. After my bachelors, masters and doctorate, I have a $183K bill. My entire post secondary education was funded through loans. So now as we face the reality that payments are resuming as SAVE is now dead, I decided to use the loan simulator, the number has made my stomach go to my backside and my heart in my feet. $748…

Now I’ve always had the plan to repay. I’m in public education and very committed to staying in education, so the plan has been to do my 10 years of payments and have the rest forgiven. My salary is $72K but I work summer school, proctor exams, and other jobs that gets me to $81K. Like many people, I’m robbing Peter to pay Paul and that $748 has me questioning how can I stay in public education (we all know the pay ain’t the best) and be able to make these payments. I have 5 more years of payments and I’m trying to be optimistic, but that payment just obliterates my budget into the negative each month.

So is the simulator fairly accurate? Are payments based on AGI? What is discretionary income exactly? Oh I’m just so overwhelmed! Just trying to wrap my head around this and get a game plan going. Any advice, similar experiences, or things I should look into would really help. Thanks in advance!