Leaks more right after faucet is turned on, but a little all the time.

I am not handy enough to remove faucet from underneath (to change
gasket IF that is the problem). Right now, can't afford to call a
plumber or replace the faucet. (On the latter, I am waiting to
replace a lot of chipped tile and get the whole counter regrouted so I
can have a wall-mounted faucet put in.)

After recaulking recently around the sink area, I note that the
water from leaky faucet softens and practically dissolves the caulk
behind the faucet. So much for thinking I could caulk around the
base. The "plumbing" guy at OSH heard my story and recommended
plumbers putty.

Does NG think plumbers putty would hold the line until I can afford a
permanent solution?

Or is there some kind of gasket I can form around the base of the
faucet that would keep the water in?

TIA