Agreed,
one doesn't need to spend a fortune on a multi meter, you can find a decent meter at Home Depot, in the states they sell Klein, it's a decent device, they are practically all manufactured in China, even expensive Fluke meters are made there. Just pick up a manual range meter, you don't necessarily need an auto range device. Even Harbor Freight carry multi meters, but I believe that they stock one manufacturer that supplies for HB under the HB brand name.
We don't have HB up here, but when I go down to Buffalo I make a point of dropping into the HB to pick up simple items there.