[intellectronica]

One easy way to start is by looking for so-called "contracting" gigs - where in practice you join a team, usually on-site, but instead of joining as an employee you bill by the day. It's not very different from having a job, but it gives you a chance to get paid for working on a diverse set of projects and to build relationships with other people who are already working as freelancers. Typically this type of work is shorter term and more flexible, so if you see that you have an opportunity to get some freelancing work you can moonlight on it, or reduce your work to 3-4 days a week.