Good cheap multi-meter?

[Fungus]

you recommend brymen?

100%, especially if you live in Europe where they're easy to buy. I personally wouldn't buy any other brand for a "serious" meter.

(The USA really loses here...)

wouldn't mind to try an870 if you vouch for it(everyone seems to praise it) .. half the cost from the brymen

I have one and it gets a thumbs up. It can do everything I need a meter to do, no problem. I wouldn't regret having one as a first meter.

It has more features and capabilities than that Brymen (it's Brymen's cheapest meter) but Brymen is a lot better build quality.

(Several people including me have had the screen bezel fall off their AN870. They used bad glue. I don't know if they've fixed that or not. My AN860 (the previous version) has been through a lot of abuse and never had this problem).

What is your opinion about amazon multimeters(rebadged cem)? any other to recommend?

I really don't know much about them. They're not going to be amazing meters though.

My philosophy is like Big Clive: Either go very cheap and accept the limitations/problems or go expensive and get something decent. The middle ground is the area to avoid.

You always need more than one meter so.... get one of each!

[GigaJoe]

an870 painfully slow on resistors measurement , with basic sequence algorithm, it driving me nut,  a bit better with 10M quartz (instead 4M)   

[elias87]

would fluke 101 be better? the reason I mentioned amazon is because they have  decent price and protection and they are certified. I saw a comparison between 90dm600 and fluke from kiss analog in YouTube and he praised it. I am so confused. too many options. brymen looks good but seems old. looks can be deceiving though. plus it costs around 70 shipped..I don't know if that extra amount ls worth it and if I paid 70 I could add 20 more to get 235 which is perfect but outside price range for me. again so confused.

[Fungus]

would fluke 101 be better?

No. They don't measure amps.