I think the real truth here is that if you are already having issues with the way he is, it's not going to get better, he's not going to change, so you you'd have to change your wants, needs, preferences to fit him into your life.

In the very beginning, if it's going to be "right" at all, you're not going to be having these kinds of doubts. If it's right, it's right enough to move forward. If you don't like cheap men, don't try to fit one in just because. Even if you get him to change, he will only do it for a while and then revert back to his usual tendencies again over time. If he did change for you, say tomorrow, you'd have to observe him for quite some time to see if the change "takes" hold.

And, you are right to be wary of a man who is so cheap, forgets his wallet, etc. maybe being after you for your money. But don't dwell on that. Date him, be light and casual for now, observe carefully, manage your emotions and expectations, do not give him any financial support. You'll need to do this for quite some time anyway.

I've just gotten "off that boat" with a man that I felt connected with in the beginning but over time, I began to observe that things weren't working for me and I just had to go through that process to learn from it for the future. It was at about the 6 month mark that I started to see the "real" him but wasn't quite clear until recently. It's tricky out there but we can't be afraid. Just enjoy new dating scenarios, give them a little time and space and if/when they don't work for you, leave them and learn from the experiences.