Sqlite it's a nice option, it's a light and fast database management system ideal for small application that have to work in local. If you're going to write your program from the first line of code.. well I guess you have to learn the basic of some language.. Java it's a good choice, c# also its' very simple (although not free or portable) and pratical on windows.. If you have the opportunity to install and try visual basic consider of trying Ironspeed designer, it's a very easy to use application that can do the design work of an application over a database that you create (on access or other), I reccomand it.

Bye!

Or the equally simple Delphi which applications can be compiled stand alone, removing the need for users to have a run time library installed.

Isn't delphi compiler not so cheap? Very easy to use but not so affordable.. I guess..