If it's a "few thousand dollar gap", but you're much more interested in the role, that seems like the best choice? Better to be happy in a role than get paid a

If it's a "few thousand dollar gap", but you're much more interested in the role, that seems like the best choice? Better to be happy in a role than get paid a few hundred more a month and be less happy. I've found that companies that have an established vacation policy (vs. "unlimited") won't change that as part of negotiation (this is in the U.S., though). Even if they won't put in writing that they'll give you $X bump in 6 months, you could ask for a salary review in 6 months. That's no commitment on their part for an amount, but it does mean that something will happen in 6 months -- and if they don't give you a bump, well, you can evaluate whether you're happy enough that it doesn't matter, or you can look to move elsewhere.