Asklemmy

I could live on 50% my salary now -- after building my retirement funds. I'm probably a lot older than you are. I'm not married. In Germany if this matters.

Progressive taxation and health insurance costs help a lot. You'll earn half the brutto, but the interesting question is the netto. You can run your numbers here: https://www.brutto-netto-rechner.info/teilzeit.php (in German)

1400 net can be a perfectly liveable depending on location / housing cost, but you need to think about retirement savings!

Could you take a 50% contract, and claim 50% social benefits? These last 50 won't be much but will help.

That's kinda what I do here in France, but I only get short contracts, then unemployment, then work etc to about 35~55% a year.

Another thing that helps is not going 50, but like 80 - it helps a ton to have 2 afternoons a week, I have many friends who did / do that.

My mother was a nurse, I feel you. Took early retirement as soon as she could.

Go half time and go back to school. Give yourself another option.

Could you go 50% and then use the free time to create some sort of side business?

Not 50, but 60 percent. I earn ~1,600 euros net per month. 60 percent work does not mean 60 percent net, because taxes and social security contributions are deducted. Nevertheless, the most important thing is to keep living costs as low as possible. That's why I live in a WG (shared apartment approx. €500 per month) and will be moving into a cooperative next. Also important: no children! However, you have to accept that you will have significantly less private space. For example, I have a 15 square meter room. But in return, I have Thursdays and Fridays off.