.NET is free. Maybe you misunderstand what it is:
@ You write programs in C++ .NET, perhaps using Microsoft's Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions (available free from
Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions).
@ You compile the programs as .NET programs and distribute them.
@ When the user runs it, they must have the .NET Framework installed (also free).
.NET is not a compiler - it is a framework. In other words, when the program runs, it relies on the framework to run it. The framework provides lots of really helpful classes, such as System.IO.File, which can do everything with files, and really easily, too.
The compiler used, from
Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions, is both free and comprehensive. Give it a try!
Oh, and I know what you mean - I'm 12 years old.