Sometimes I overthink things and when I realize it and step back, pray, and ask myself what would have been done before back in the day to fix stuff. Something simple I would think given what they had to work with then. It may have been a temporary fix but it did work for a while. I can settle for that.
The thing is back in the day, they had real brass chrome-plated traps and rubber washers. It was easy to get a fresh seal on them with a new washer, but these cheap plastic traps with hard nylon washers are faulty from the get-go and may be the death of me. What a sad obituary found only in a remote corner of the women's DIY plumbing page.
@Von Jones You and I must be kin. I'm the same way, pondering how those before us managed. I worked on a home repair project with the 80 year old deacon of a country church. We would talk of this very thing. He told stories of making screen door "hinges" from strips of leather when he was a kid. @Faye Fox I recall the many times I've used one of these: I bet you have, too.
Next time you have to tighten it, you might think of using some super glue on the threads before snugging it up. To me, super glue is the next best thing to aircraft bolt and nut safety wiring.
I replaced my large heavy old Badger disposal with a high RPM Moen half the size but more powerful and lighter and it and Rectorseal #5 applied to all the heavy-duty ABS trap and sink joints put the quietus on any leaking for good. Over 2 years now and nary a drop.
My first Mother In Law gave m a Reader's Digest DIY book for a wedding present and I've used it many times over the years. But as almost everything is changing, even in plumbing, definitely in codes, not sure a mere book will do. My neighbor put in a toilet with computer stuff in it! You and I have used common sense over the years. But that will be out the window.