Templates of all shapes and sizes are out there for everything you can possible want or need, but how do you find what will work best for you?

These ideas should help:

• Be specific in your Internet search. Do you need a template to better handle your money, do you need to make a chart (and what kind?) are you interested in getting the best home mortgage calendar or timesheet, or do you need a template or two to help you with your school class?
• Make a list of five of the best templates you found, and start with the one that intrigues you the most.
• Try it. See what it does for you. Use it before trying another on your list. Give the try at least two weeks before you dive into favorite #2.
• Make sure the template is easy to use and gives you the help and direction you need. There’s nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed when just beginning to use a template; at the same time, realize you might need some tutorial help to assist you.
• Go beyond the ordinary. Find a template that not only does what you need it to do, but has a bit of frosting on the side. Creative templates can be used to juice up your business or resume. You can even create personalized invitations. Try the ones at Codswallop.
• Talk to your friends and neighbors about what they use. If you see a resume you like, ask if they used a template to produce it. Asking questions merely widens your options and given you more opportunities to choose from.

Whatever template you ultimately choose, make sure you’re open to answering questions about it. “Pay it forward” by spreading the news.