If you really want to use a database from C++ and can't afford to buy one how about using an open source one like mysql? Mysql is a pretty standard RDMS and you can get an ODBC driver for it for free. It's also used in loads of commercial products as well, so if you ever want a programming job it's a good thing to have on you CV or resume.
You can get msql and connector/ODBC (the mysql ODBC driver) from
http://dev.mysql.com/.
As it sounds like you've never used ODBC before then I'd suggest picking up a second hand copy of "Inside ODBC" by Kyle Geiger. They're going for a song from traders on Amazon marketplace and I found it very lucid and easy to read.
Even if you've got the full version of VC++2008 I don't recommend using the MFC ODBC classes until you've got a relatively decent idea of what ODBC is and how to use it at raw API level.
I hope this helps you do what you need. And if it inspires you to become a competent C++ programmer that can write code to access databases then so much the better. The world needs them for high performance apps and there aren't enough to go around.
Cheers,
Ash