I start each project with a README, and then slowly add stuff. Very few of my projects existing templates closely enough that I feel like I could get away with

I start each project with a README, and then slowly add stuff. Very few of my projects existing templates closely enough that I feel like I could get away with using a scaffolding tool. When I first used create-react-app, I spent a half day ripping apart the results and adding the parts I liked to a new project, incrementally. I feel like copying build scripts, configuration, and project structure from existing projects you have experience with is no worse than using a scaffolding tool. Copying isn't a bad thing.