Almost 10 years ago I bought a cheap ($35 at the time, now it's $25 or $20) Craftsman DMM from Kmart:
I still use it very frequently and it gets the job done. Very rugged. Just keep in mind I think the leads for it are only CAT III (though the meter is supposedly rated as CAT V). Still going strong though, and I think in these 10 years it's only needed 1 battery change (if any--can't remember exactly). For beginners I highly recommend this meter. You probably don't need a Fluke at this point, unless you find one for a REALLY good deal. Also, if I remember correctly, Craftsman has a lifetime replacement warranty....