The following three files are known to become easily corrupt and cause a myriad of problems. Trashing these will cause them to be rebuilt and often fixes assorted ills. For sure it is worth a try and it cannot hurt.
Go to: user/library/preferences/Microsoft and then trash: Office Font Cache (10), Word Font Substitutes, and Word Settings.
Then, Repair Permissions.
And if that does not work, you might also try-
1. Opening Word
2. In the menu bar, go to Tools->Customize
3. Then in the Toolbars tab, ensure "standard" is checked.
Re saving templates, I am reasonably sure there is a way of doing it, but I don't know how. Sorry.
And finally, have you installed the MS 10.2.5 updater? If not, that may help.
Harv