US, yes. I just started on fiverr and upwork and the like, but in the meantime I networked a little in some communities online. Those sites aren't really viable anymore, and were barely viable when I did it, so I don't know what to tell you except once you figure that part out and network a little you'll have a few people that need you to do something every so often. I specifically target small jobs that would take me under a month to complete, and I don't do more than a handful a year at this point, since life is so cheap.
The hardest part about freelancing is policing yourself. It's so easy to just not work that you have to be the kind of person that will actually do the boss part of being your own boss. I'm not the best at that, but I have more than one source, freelance programming is one, and a couple of others that give me some money when I need it. I'm not above any kind of work, and if push comes to shove I'll go get a shit service job for a short period to cover expenses and save a bit, and I've done that twice for a couple of months each time.
Starving artist, I'm not starving, I eat good but I cook everything I eat and hardly ever pay someone to cook for me at a food place. Truth is, when you let go of what you think are comforts you'll find you don't really need them. A sanitary space to take care of yourself and healthy food is all you need. But yes, it takes some getting used to not needing so much and can be a shock.
Insurance... I didn't, until recently. I just lived without it. It's one of those things, most people think they need it but they really don't, most of the time. But that time you do you'll wish you had it, hence "insurance." I have gone without it most of my life, but I'm getting to an age where it's going to start coming in handy, so I got myself set up in the marketplace. For just one person it can be pretty affordable if you aren't making a ton of money, if you are making a ton of money, then with lower expenses elsewhere it seems to be not a big deal.
OK so you already have a partner, that changes the calculus quite a bit. I was just me, and one of my goals with this was to wind up somewhere I liked and meet people I liked and hopefully meet someone special. For you, you've probably already got that, but it means your decisions affect someone else, so much more thought and planning have to go into what you ultimately decide.
Remember, the how isn't the most important part. I'm just giving you ideas from my own life. Burnout is a symptom that something deeper is wrong, and you have to figure out what that is. You might love living in the city and working a desk job and eating out and drinking with friends on the weekends, but you just hate the company you're at, or the type of work you do. Or, you might just not want to live in an ant colony anymore. The most important part is figuring out what part of your life is making you miserable, and then, what kind of life wouldn't. Then you figure out the how.
The hardest part about freelancing is policing yourself. It's so easy to just not work that you have to be the kind of person that will actually do the boss part of being your own boss. I'm not the best at that, but I have more than one source, freelance programming is one, and a couple of others that give me some money when I need it. I'm not above any kind of work, and if push comes to shove I'll go get a shit service job for a short period to cover expenses and save a bit, and I've done that twice for a couple of months each time.
Starving artist, I'm not starving, I eat good but I cook everything I eat and hardly ever pay someone to cook for me at a food place. Truth is, when you let go of what you think are comforts you'll find you don't really need them. A sanitary space to take care of yourself and healthy food is all you need. But yes, it takes some getting used to not needing so much and can be a shock.
Insurance... I didn't, until recently. I just lived without it. It's one of those things, most people think they need it but they really don't, most of the time. But that time you do you'll wish you had it, hence "insurance." I have gone without it most of my life, but I'm getting to an age where it's going to start coming in handy, so I got myself set up in the marketplace. For just one person it can be pretty affordable if you aren't making a ton of money, if you are making a ton of money, then with lower expenses elsewhere it seems to be not a big deal.
OK so you already have a partner, that changes the calculus quite a bit. I was just me, and one of my goals with this was to wind up somewhere I liked and meet people I liked and hopefully meet someone special. For you, you've probably already got that, but it means your decisions affect someone else, so much more thought and planning have to go into what you ultimately decide.
Remember, the how isn't the most important part. I'm just giving you ideas from my own life. Burnout is a symptom that something deeper is wrong, and you have to figure out what that is. You might love living in the city and working a desk job and eating out and drinking with friends on the weekends, but you just hate the company you're at, or the type of work you do. Or, you might just not want to live in an ant colony anymore. The most important part is figuring out what part of your life is making you miserable, and then, what kind of life wouldn't. Then you figure out the how.