You can do it as a consultant/freelancer but you will have to build up your reputation first.

Expect 1 year of underemployment where you have either no work, or strategically discounted/pro-bono work so when you are doing something it's 60 hour weeks for shit pay.

Once you have a couple clients in your portfolio you can spend another year or two making normal consultant wages, but as you will be focusing on becoming know you can't turn down any work so expect 40-60 hour weeks.

Finally, after 3 years you'll have a solid reputation and if you played your cards right, work should start to find you. You can put less effort into marketing and start managing shorter weeks.

Don't go this way if you want something easy though. It's nothing of the sort. But I can smell the freedom and I see the light at the end of the tunnel.