Great question! And I think that where you are right now is as good a starting point as any. With COVID and lockdowns and economic recession going on, I think more and more people are going to ask themselves how they can bridge the gap on their own for the next 6-18 months.

I'm saying "good starting point" because this is where you are right now. Start from there. Start where you are. Don't think "I should've" because it never helps.

3.5 years of coding experience is terrific! I wouldn't call that "almost no experience". Even if you wouldn't count all 3.5 years since starting. In my experience, for gaining experience, a good mindset and a little bit of a head start is what you need to tackle new projects. After 10 years, I still feel like (and am) a beginner every day.

I recommend you revisit your assertions about consulting, SMB, etc. I'm sure things are tough right now, and the market is getting smaller, but it's going to pick up at some point too. Consulting as a freelancer for you could mean a few extra months of runway. The upside you can get by experimenting with freelancing far outweigh the negatives. This is even more true for online freelancing with platforms like Upwork.

Invest time into building a network online. When you're supported by a network of peers, you'll get more opportunities. It's also fun, you learn a ton, and a network is generally an asset that doesn't go away quickly if you keep putting energy in it. For me, networking starts with putting stuff out there: writing, helping others, building projects. IMHO, networking doesn't merely include chatting on Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., but contributing in thoughtful forums and communities definitely helps. The best way to start here is to start building projects. I've always met people through their works and their projects.

How can you make $1k a month? With the above (freelance + networking) I think you can already get there, if you get opportunities to build projects for people. It's also smart to start thinking in terms of assets. Freelancing is a trap in the sense that time == money, and if you stop working, you stop making money. Can you build something online that makes money? A SaaS, an app, an email newsletter, a website about something you like, teaching/mentoring people, a service – anything.

(Before you start, get a good book/resource on launching a business. It helps avoid so many mistakes and reinvented wheels. A few hands-on ones come to mind, but see what works for you: $100 startup, traction, AppSumo $1k course, "This is marketing" by Seth Godin.)

I'm mentioning SaaS last, because it takes time and luck to make that happen quickly (or at all). You want to bootstrap yourself first, extend your runway, work on time-for-money projects, and then spend 1/3 or 2/3 of your time on building a SaaS or app.

The last bit of advice I wanted to give is that it all starts with people. Freelancing, networking, building a project – it's all people. Find your people first, and then build something that helps them. Instead of the other way around, is finding a product first, and then retrofitting it for people.

Good luck!

(My credentials: I've been a freelance app developer since 2009, I now make a living teaching iOS development online.)