At work I have had to create several databases. Most are equivalent to card file systems and I've found Excel adequate for all of these; basic spreadsheets such as those in Works and iWork/Life/whatever are every bit as good for most things. Having been tasked (by my then missus, for her PhD thesis) with creating text tables on a Kaypro using Perfect Calc running on C/PM (it was almost 30 years ago) I got into the habit of using spreadsheets to create tables of text and I've never been caught short.

When I had to compile a bibliography of papers and publications relevant to the archaeology and anthropology of the New England (Oz) I got myself a copy of EndNote and it worked well for even the strangest objects of text. Fortunately my employer has provided free updates of EndNote, so have been able to use it for personal library info as well.

I expect I'll have to come to terms with relational databases in due course but basic spreadsheets will do fine until then. If you get into trouble, Kevin, feel free to PM me and I'll try to give you a hand.

Cheers, Rowan