Lot's of meters I would suggest looking at. I wouldn't suggest either the 87 or 88 even though both are great meters. I should amend that, I wouldn't suggest either if you are paying full (new) or typical used prices for them. The older 87-1, 87-2, and 87-3 meters solid but newer meters offer more features. The 87-5 ups the game but they are around $200 used on ebay.
If you can find a deal on any of those, they are great meters.
Most of my alternatives are Brymen based meters but in the US Brymen branded meters are rare. Just posting some examples from ebay (NOT endorsing any seller or any particular price as a good deal on that meter).
Brymen based:
Greenlee Dm-820A, I picked up one in used but acceptable shape for $60. Under $100 seems rather typical. This is a 6000 count meter, I don't recall the Brymen equivalent. 862 maybe?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenlee-DM-820A-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-1000-Volt-/272624937943?hash=item3f79b66bd7:g:phMAAOSwls5Y6oiDGreenlee Dm-210A
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenlee-Digital-Multimeter-DM-210A-/162491005795?hash=item25d537fb63:g:PpwAAOSwVm5Y~9GpI had the DM-200 which is around $80 on Amazon. Solid little meter. Related to Dave's EEVBlog meter.
Matco
Look like the Greenlee (other than color)? I wonder why...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MATCO-Automotive-Digital-Tech-Multimeter-Auto-Ranging-Auto-Check-MD257-/262947047059?hash=item3d38dd8693:g:Vc8AAOSwmCVY-ju7Matco has several version of this basic meter (as does Greenlee). This one is the "best" version, teh MD257. $76 is a solid price (again no idea if the seller is good or crap).
Amprobe
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amprobe-AM-270-TRMS-Industrial-Multimeter-w-Bar-Graph-/322467314052?hash=item4b148cb984:g:YaEAAOSw9r1V8IHrThese were around $110 on Amazon not too long ago. This and the AM-130 seem to be the same meter. Very solid choice. It's an older Brymen based design but works really well. Only the backlight is poor.
Amprobe pocket thing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amprobe-AM-47-Digital-Pocket-Type-Multimeter-/282386696170?hash=item41bf8f07ea:g:FqIAAOSwnF9Y7Zb2Yes, this is also a Brymen. I think it has non-contact voltage detection.
I've also had good luck with other brands. My current garage meters are Flukes. I've got a 73-3 and a 27
With patience I got the 73-3 for something like $30. The seller said it didn't work. Turned out the battery was bad...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-73III-NEAR-MINT-MULTIMETER-/222486767796?hash=item33cd3ea8b4:g:pp4AAOSwSypY~hkuThe 27's are tanks. Every now and again it seems you can get these really cheap (also look for the 8025A and 8025B which are the same meter. Note that the 27's were around for a long time. Older ones have somewhat harder to read LCDs (the last ones are VERY easy to read). The 27-FMs are TRMS... probably doesn't mater for you. I don't think I've paid over $30 for one of these. But I'm willing to wait and search.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-27-Multimeter-with-Leads-Guaranteed-to-Work-/261577392520?hash=item3ce73a4188:g:HtgAAOSwT5tWN9hrBK Precision/Metrix
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BK-Precision-model-5370-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-/232291786123?hash=item3615ab5d8b:g:geYAAOSwzgBY4m3tI've had two of the 53X0 meters. Great meters and sometimes they go for a song. I think I was under $50 each for the two I've had. Like many Flukes these meters have a Touch-Hold feature.
Blue and orange Agient handhelds
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Agilent-U1241A-True-RMS-Mutlimeter-/291958528115?hash=item43fa159873:g:BdYAAOSw44BYPvfKI've had various U125_A/B and U124_A/B meters. They are good but I found both somewhat flawed. The U125_ series meters were great but ate 9V batteries (they were designed to use rechargables). The U124_ would be an easy meter to recommend if the dang beeper were just louder. Probably great for a quiet lab but not in the garage. Otherwise a very solid meter. I picked up a U1241 for under $50 (again a deal I waited for).
Some APPA based Ideal multimeters can be solid. This family can sometimes be found for very low prices on ebay. Fast continuity check.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ideal-Industries-480-Series-Commercial-Grade-Multimeter-Model-61-484-/382019866245?hash=item58f2288e85:g:vGAAAOSw4DJYioaKhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Ideal-Digital-Amplifier-Multi-Meter-61-482-New-Battery-/172639429290?hash=item28321ca2aa:g:e08AAOSwvihY~B-~Note that with companies like BK, Amprobe, Extec, Craftsman etc they often have a mix of great and not so great meters depending on the OEM. Extec has some Brymen based meters that are all solid while other meters are CME based and not that great (but may be a great deal)
This Southwire for example is basically the same as the current Extec and I guess OK if the price is right. Solid construction and better safety protection than many sub $50 meters but slow continuity tester and the bar graph operates at the same speed as the display thus isn't really useful. I've seen these go for under $30 fairly often. I would trust it to take a beating but not to give me quick continuity checks.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOUTHWIRE-12070T-TRUE-RMS-AUTORANGING-MULTIMETER-FREE-SHIPPING-/322298596068?hash=item4b0a7e4ae4:g:zxMAAOSw4shYBnydHope that helps