Myra,

I completely understand how over-whelming it is to pick out a drill!!! I remember the first drill I bought was a Makita 6.5 volt drill because it was on sale next to the check-out counter for $20. It seemed like such a great deal but I learned really fast that it wasn't.

Here's what I've learned so far around the idea of buying a drill.

1) Voltage is key: you want to make sure you don't buy anything under 9 volts but preferably at least 12-14 volts. The reason why has more to do with the fact that you will probably want to take on more intensive projects as time goes on and you'll want a drill that can grow with you.

2) How much it weighs. When you go to buy a cordless drill you will find that the more power it has, the heavier it is. This is because it needs a bigger battery. (Although you can get a drill with a Nickel Lithium ion battery that will have more power and be lighter.)

As for what I reccomend looking at, I would have to say that you can find some great, inexpensive drills at your local home improvement center such as Ryobi, Skill and Makita. Once you've decided on the voltage and if you have a few choices to choose between, then it's more a matter of the bells and whistles that each one comes with. I personally love it when a drill has a magnetic tray to hold screws and the like while I'm working (I am always dropping stuff ;). Also check to see if it has a level or plumb bubble built in (this will help to make sure you are working straight up and down or level).

Most importantly, don't stress that this will need to be the perfect drill forever. If you do get more involved in doing home improvement you will probably want another more powerful drill down the road and there's nothing wrong with that! I probably own one of every voltage and don't regret a single purchase, except for the 6.5 volt! ;)