I use cheap meters but I buy from eseasongear.
The cheap TDS meter I use is an HM Digital brand and I use 2 of them, also use 2 of the Milwaukee 600 pH meters and I test them against each other. I've always believed in having 2 meters of the same type because I know that when they're both reading the same number after calibration and even 2 weeks after calibration that I'm dead on accurate. I'm a fanatic about keeping electrode cleaning and calibration solutions stocked up because I believe in frequent electrode cleaning and calibrating. I keep fresh 1.5 batteries for the meters as back up also.
If you're going to go cheap, buy 2 meters of the same type and test them against each other. Even if I did spend $100 on a fancy name brand meter I wouldn't trust the bastard until I spent another $100 to have 2 matching meters to test against each other.
All of my meters are almost 3 years old now and just as accurate as day 1.
I use HI 7061 electrode cleaning solution by Hanna and General Hydroponics standard reference solution 1500 ppm NaCI.
Some of the super cheap meters on ebay with no name I would not trust and I've seen them as low as $7.00.
If you want a cheap meter that's reliable and want to know that you're accurate , buy 2 of these>
http://www.eseasongear.com/hmditdme.html
They are $15.59 each but $30.38 for 2.
You don't have to have 2 , but the extra one let's you know you're dead on accurate. Think of it as a good insurance of assurance.
I have 2 of these for pH also >
http://www.eseasongear.com/ph600.html
I'm can't help being obsessed with having a back-up to everything, but I'm cheap also.