Asked for a raise… what’s going on?

So I’ve been with my company since I graduated two years ago. I have always really liked my boss, but I have soon noticed that there’s no growth to the role. They hired me at an okay salary, and last April (so about 1.4 years into the job) they gave me a 5% raise which apparently isn’t standard as they usually only give 2% if anything during the performance reviews. Now the problem is that I’m finding myself not being able to afford anything, my rent has increased and in all honesty my classmates are now making on average 15 to 20% more than me because they got promoted after 1-2 years.

Last November I asked my boss for a raise and she apparently talked to her manager and said they both agree that I deserve a raise. Yesterday (so about 2 months after I first asked) she updated me saying her boss was going to talk to HR on January 27th so that’s another 10 days from today.

I asked if HR is the one that will set amount and timeline and she said yes. (???)

At this point I am honestly very frustrated and started interviewing elsewhere. I feel so guilty about it because my boss has always been very supportive, but at the same time I am so frustrated that the company has no growth for people hired right out of college.

In your opinion, are they stalling? Bsing me? What is going on here and is this potentially normal?