/usr/local permission issues

I have an M1 Max running Ventura 13.2.1. I need to figure out how to change certain permission issues. I know that /usr/local generally shouldn't change permissions, however, whenever I attempt to update npm, npx, node, etc. it locks me out until I go through a strange process where it then finally works and updates. I have tried taking ownership through terminal of just certain items, the /usr/local/bin folder (which I know I shouldn't do and don't really want to), and any number of other "fixes". I just want a solution so that when I go to update it doesn't take me 30 minutes to an hour because I can't remember the work around I used the last time. This shouldn't be this difficult - npm update wants to rename the npm file so it can do the update, but it's always a no go. Any thoughts would be appreciated outside of "you shouldn't do that, you don't need to, etc" as I have already said I am aware of that. I need a simple, constructive solution. Thanks in advance.