Negotiating pay when I have been out of work - what worked for you?

I do not know whether to give a range or ask for theirs. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I looked up ranges in Albuquerque and they vary a lot. What did you say?

Benefits matter too. A slightly lower rate with better coverage was better for me.

Check several sources for pay in Albuquerque, then pick a range where the low end is one you can live with.