Salary ?

[adpiucf]

I know this belongs in "careers and employment" but no one ever really seems to read that forum.

So...

Sometimes when you are applying for a job, they ask your salary expectations. I've always been advised to ignore this.

Now (hypothetically), let's say the prospective employer looks at your resume anyway, and really likes it, but contacts you via email to say, we want to chat with you, but first we need to know your salary expectations.

Is there any gracious way to tell them that I can work within their budgets? I don't want to shoot too high or too low by giving them a number at this point in the game.

What do you think? Looking for opinions of those who are out in the professional workforce and have experience with this.

Thanks!