Green’s Dictionary of Slang

cheap, produced cheaply; thus often also of inferior quality; also as adv. (see cit. 1967).

1967		J. Burke Till Death Us Do Part 31: All that old-fashioned gear you wear – you can buy that cheapo.
1972		E. Sanders Family 175: A Grade B cheapo-cheapo movie.
1974		J. Lahr Hot to Trot 202: You’re trying to get me hot. You want a cheapo, B.O. success.
1989		C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 48: A bunch of cheapo paintings on the walls.
1999		Guardian 9 Oct. 28: A cheapo vending machine that dispenses scalding brown water.
2006		Observer Mag. 15 Jan. 13/2: Repro furniture and cheapo light fittings.
2007		N. ‘Razor’ Smith Raiders 74: He bought a cheapo legal motor for a couple of hundred quid.
2011		Eve. Standard 18 Feb. 47/2: A war of attrition to prevent penny-pinching contractors from suggesting cheapo carpets.
2020		(con. 1991-94) W. Boyle City of Margins 46: This new bed isn’t even terribly comfortable. She bought it at the cheapo mattress place.