Thread from 2016:
Need a new general-use multi-meter. Home, projects, cars, etc. HF one I have had for a while just crapped out. As far as features, beeping for continuity (with a switch) and a live wire / current detector would be nice. Any suggestions for a quality unit at a decent value?
I use one of these pretty regularly. It's been pretty reliable for the past few years.
https://www.amazon.com/IDEAL-61-744-Clamp-Pro-Clamp-Meter/dp/B001TAM3DC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1470878869&sr=8-2&keywords=ideal+600
I've been in the Electronics repair game for decades. Personally I prefer an analog meter for a lot of my automotive applications. I use a Simpson 260 a lot of the time, but....I'm old, and they do require a bit more knowledge and experience to use properly.
My all-time favorite Digital Multimeter (DMM) for general work is the Fluke 77, the older Series-II ones. They are basic, easy to use, and rugged as hell. You can pick up one on E-Bay for less than $75 all day long. I'm a big fan of the Fluke meters, been using them since the mid-80's. The one I have was issued to me in 1989, back in my Navy days....it somehow found it's way into my seabag when I left the Navy in '96...... 
If you want s few more bells and whistles, the Fluke 87-V is a solid choice. It is also available used for a decent price, usually around $100 to $130 and adds some additional "nice to have" features like Relative (delta) measurement, Frequency (and duty cycle) Min-Max, A diode-check mode, capacitance value and the ability to use a thermocouple to measure temperature.
Meters are like any other tool, in that investing a little more $$ in a quality instrument usually pays off in the long run. There is no need to go crazy, and spend a ton of money vor 90% of users, but do yourself a favor and get a good one.
Fluke is the brand to get if you don't mind the price. I have a couple of these.
They turn up in the pawn shops on occasion for around $50 and will do 95% of what needs doing. They are also damn near indestructible.
Klein is a good multimeter that won't break the bank. I have a Klein MM2000.
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