Looking back, I think most people going solo start as contractors and also diligently save at least a half year living expenses before hand.
I've begun saving but it's slow going and I'm getting impatient. I greatly enjoy the feeling of making my own destiny and having employees to care for, the idea doesn't scare me as much as it seems to bother most people.
In a position of leadership it's possible to build your own little utopia. It was a great feeling to build a bubble in a world that's usually shit, where a lucky few actually enjoyed their work and each other's company. Alas that opportunity has passed and it's nigh impossible to go from the job title developer to manager without climbing a ladder for years and brown-nosing.
Anyways, how do you recommend getting started? Like most career devs my company has me locked down with contracts so the usual advice of starting a side business isn't possible.
I recently decided that given my personality I'm not well suited to working as an employee for an employer and have gone solo. I don't want to feel like a victim to bad management or that my future and personal worth are tied to a single company as good/bad as they may be. I want my efforts properly remunerated, I want my reputation to speak for itself.
So while these traits may make you less hirable as an office worker, they may make you more hirable as an expensive contractor.