Don't do it. A full time job gives several benefits: steady paycheck, taxes done for you, healthcare (if you are in US). Going freelance erases all of the above

Don't do it. A full time job gives several benefits: steady paycheck, taxes done for you, healthcare (if you are in US). Going freelance erases all of the above benefits, and further creates more stress since clients can more easily cheat you out of your pay. And when things do go south, do you have the funds to go after them? Probably not in this economy. Stick with your day job, do freelance on the side if you really want to. Try taking on less work during your day job so you have some brainpower to do freelance on your own time.