The moment you say take it or leave it, you should stick to it. Don't be lame pls.

But the question is how do you know that the budget for your case is 7k? And I understand that it is only natural to think that you are "good" and way better than the competition, but how would you know that is what the hirer think as well?

If the company is hiring a non niche unique job with ample supply in the market and they have manage to shortlist 3-4 candidates that are roughly same calibre, why should HR not negotiate and get the best deal for the company?

If everyone adopts a take it or leave it attitude since its only "a few hundred" a month, very soon the whole manpower cost will balloon like nobody business. If it's from your own pocket will you have the same "generous" mentality? If Starhub and M1 offer roughly the same mobile plan with some slight difference will you just go for the first shop you see since it's only $10 more expensive every month?

HR have their own KPI to meet. There is also something call a budget. There is no lack of talent out in the street, why pay more when someone else is willing to work for less. in your example of 1k difference, that is 12k in a years budget. Per pax. If your team has 10 people, HR just saved 120k in the budget. Guess who is getting a bigger bonus this year.