Where's the financial value in the code I write?

tldr: this is very self-reflective and likely has no value to you. I won't be offended if you don't read further.


I don't get it.
Why are software developers paid so much? Especially when so much software is so bad?
How/Why have people paid me to write code in the past?
How can I get someone to do so again?
Especially when I write so much code for free at the moment?

💰❓

I've been thinking about money and getting paid for writing code.
This isn't meant as a dig at anyone. I'm just thinking about myself.
In part, this is because I don't have a job (or any paid work at the moment.)
Another part of this is that I haven't earned any money in the last six months.
And the final part is that I know I can't keep not earning money forever.

It might seem obvious that I should just get a job.
However, due to my family situation, I can only work remotely and part-time.

I also don't know what I want to do.
Some of the things I've worked on in the past aren't as appealing anymore. Or things that people are as interested in.

The idea of "writing code to earn money" VS "earning money to write code" has been playing on my mind. Ideally, I'd like to be in a place where I can write the code I want and still earn money. Having spoken with other people, that I've been in this position before is an exception and I may need to acknowledge this past privilege and be more realistic in the future.

I'm not sure:
- Does what I do provide value? To whom?
- What (and how much) value does what I'm capable of doing provide?
- How do you put a price on something?
- Who sets market rates? What are they based on?
- What do I want to do?

I still have some time before I have to be earning some money but I'd rather not get to the point where I'm only earning enough to get by each month.

If you've got this far and happen to have something I might be well suited to and you'd be willing to pay for, please get in touch.