https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm
This is the official government website on the outlook of the market. On the left are all the different subfields within IT. I was thinking of just being a computer programmer for a while, but now I'm thinking about security which has a couple of paths to get into. It is possible to break into the field without a degree. The degree is the gate-keeper. It makes it easier to get into the gate but that's about it. You can seriously build your skills to a very competent level through self-study so skills-wise, you don't need a degree. You learn the most from the job itself anyway. Later on you can slowly build some experience to compensate for your lack of degree.
If you are seriously interested Akhi, let me know, we can talk about a detailed roadmap whether you wanted to go the self-study route or even the degree route. I have a lot of resources Bro.
I'm not sure where you're located. If you're in the States then you could get by using grants from Financial Aid. You can get quite a bit from Grants alone. My entire first two years which was at a technical college was pretty much completely covered by grants which means no debt at all and no interest. Even the next two years are covered quite a bit through Grants but not completely.
If you go to school though, whether 2 or 4 year, make sure it's worthwhile. Get something that will be of some use. Associate's Degrees aren't worth much on their own except in certain fields where they can actually be useful. Make sure you can justify to yourself that your time and money is being spent with something fruitful. Have a game plan and make sure that the course you are pursuing is going to have a way into a good market for you to get well on your feet.
If you know two languages pretty well, then you should be able to translate. I knew a guy who was into translation. I used to work overseas teaching English as a second language. He helped me get proofreading work even though I wasn't qualified with a degree or anything. He was a freelance translator full-time. He would tell me, "You always translate into your mother language." So if your first language is English, but you can read another language pretty well, then you just write the meaning into English which shouldn't be too difficult. He and some of his friends would translate and then he would send me the translation to proofread.
You are right about it not being steady. It would take time to build one's self as a freelancer until you can get some steady clients. But it is possible. Wa Allah 'Alim.
I've done non IT related work for my entire working career, so even if I wanted to make that move, it would be too much of a hassle to try and compete with high schoolers who grew up around this stuff. Not saying it's impossible because I have read many stories of people making career changes later in their lives, but I just don't think I'm ready to make that jump especially since I have a stable job alhamdulillah.
