From the looks of the picture (and the fact that you can't swing the body shop costs), I'd advise using some touch up paint from the Mazda (don't go the Duplicolor route) dealer's parts window. Do this very, very soon to protect the area against future rusting. This way you aren't under the gun to get it to the body shop guys. Make sure the scratches are clean and dry. Shake the touch up bottle throughly to make sure you have the paint mixed properly. Go slowly and don't apply too much at once. The paint thickens and dries fairly quickly. Don't try to work it much, just flow it on as thin as you can. You can always go back and add a second coat later. It will not come out smooth like the original finish. Those touch up brushes are meant for touching in chips, not real painting.
After the paint has cured for several days you can use 1,500 or 2,000 grit wet/dry sand paper to level the touched up area. Soak small pieces (2"x3" or so) in a small bucket of water to get the backing softened. Then wrap a piece of sandpaper around a flat stick or board. In one hand, hold a garden hose with a small trickle of water coming out above the area to be worked on. In your other hand GENTLY rub the touched up area with the sanding block. Go very lightly, these papers cut very quickly! Sand only enough to level the touch up area. Don't sand out into the good paint if you can help it. You may find that you have some hollows where you didn't get enough paint applied. Go ahead and dry the area and touch in the hollows and repeat the above. When you get the touched up areas smooth, you can use polishing (not rubbing) compound to even the shine on the whole area. After the paint has cured for a week, you can wax it. It won't be perfect, but it will last until you can afford to have a pro work on it. Good luck. Jim
(bang) (hand) 
