This probably won't be the answer you're hoping for, but frankly, there's not a lot of difference between any of the sub-$300 ssfg bikes out there. If that's truly all you can spend, just pick the one that looks best to your eye.

If I was in your shoes, I'd start by trying a fit calculator so you get a general idea of what frame size you need, and then head to craigslist to see what the used options in your area are. In most decent sized cities there's no shortage of PureFix, Critical, and other budget bikes being sold by folks who bought one on a whim and realized they either didn't like ssfg or immediately wanted something better. And there are usually nicer bikes on cl that will be closer to your budget since they're used.