Need help in choosing a language

I am a hopeless person who has become addicted to Evercrack2. I am wanting to write a small program that will let me figure out a fair (as fair) as can be system and one that consistant in marking up th eprive of craft items that are player made.
What I need help with is, what do I write it in? I know I could do it in excel but i might as well take this time to leard something new. I was thinking about Visual basic? If you have any other Ideas or a suggestion as a good book to learn from pleasw let me know.

Suunsu
Suunsu@gmail.com