It's a lot easier to do freelancing when you've got colleagues you've worked with before who remember your work ethic and output.

And make friends at those places, don't be the unapproachable guy coding away in the corner. It matters. A lot.

I'm effectively earning 2-3 salaries right now because of contract side gigs for former colleagues.

if you can code, and you can show it, you should never make so little