In reply to Explorer-Jason:
I have a full time job but having watched what a lot of instructors do in their winters I would say they split into two camps. Some work abroad, either continuing to teach (winter sports or opposite side of the globe for summer stuff) or get a challet type job and ski/MB/walk/climb etc. The pay is generally poorer but you get to build your skills, travel and cover your costs. Some stay home and combine an extended holiday with picking up work in supermarkets, construction, outdoors shops, pre-christmas royal mail temping etc. etc. until the season comes around again. Ironically the latter will leave you with more money in your pocket but the former will set you up better for a future in the outdoors sector. The obvious question is where do you want your outdoors career to go and then where can you place yourself to get the skills and experience that will help with that? That might be more volunteer work or it might be working in costa for 2 months to save up to go and do your RCI training. Depends what you need.
If you enjoy winter sports as well then it's a bit of a no-brainer, go and work somewhere you can develop your skills or plonk yourself in one of the many self proclaimed "outdoors capitals" we have and enjoy being at a stage in your career where you can live cheap and maximise your time in the outdoors (I'm making an assumption about your position in life/age there so could be wrong). Most outdoors instructors can only survive by being multi-disciplinary - mountain biking, paddle sports, canyoning etc. all have longish seasons and then obviously snow sports. The winter could be an opportunity to broaden out if you aren't already working towards quals in those areas.
You should be able to pick up paid work next summer (ML or not) but it will be slim pickings if you're set on only doing freelance work. You need experience to make it work and freelance is the slowest way to gain that. Have a look on IfOL or google outdoor adventure jobs and try and find something which gives you experience with groups and leading a wide range of different activities. Even better if it will help you collect a few more pieces of paper and puts money in your pocket. It's an industry which inherently allows a lot of moving around and working for different companies. Freelance is hard to make a living from even with 20 years experience and connections, it's not unheard of to come across experienced MIC's doing non-related or semi-related work to get by in quiet spells (i.e. ropes course construction, mini-bus driving, digger driving etc.). The only instructors I have come accross who freelance at the start of their career live at home with their mum and spend more time moaning about low pay and a lack of work than getting out and building their skills/connections up - the work just isn't there for them. The contacts you pick up and the soft skills you can gain from working ta centres and with different companies/groups are what will get you work in the future, more so than qualifications. There are an awful lot of ML holders out there to compete with.
Good luck, as the saying goes the pay's poor but the work's hard!