Do small-scale client work and ask for half up front. I've done this plenty of times succesfully. I also paid my rent for several months while unemployed by of

Do small-scale client work and ask for half up front. I've done this plenty of times succesfully. I also paid my rent for several months while unemployed by offering to do work on my landlord's other properties. In fact, me and one of my other housemates were "employed" this way until we found more lucrative work. Tutoring other people in web development has also paid my bills at times.