MADISON, Wis. -- The troubled economy has shaken the financial security of many, and it's causing some local residents to rethink retirement.

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The AARP said the recession is having an impact on those who are 45 and older.

The AARP said 25 percent of those recently surveyed are having trouble paying their mortgage or rent, one-third have stopped adding to retirement accounts or pension plans or raided them for money and 27 percent have postponed retirement plans.

Talking about dashed retirement dreams isn't easy for many, but two local residents shared their stories and guidance for retirement with WISC-TV.

The two said they aren't in a dire situation, but admitted that their plans for retirement changed as quickly as the stock market did. Shareen Martin and Bob Goebel don't know each other, but they do have something in common. Both are retired and they're both thinking more than ever before about managing money in their golden years.

"We've lived within our means, but we still agonized because of the uncertainty about when the stock market is going to come back and how long it's going to take, because I'm going to be 63 this year. If it's going to take the market 10 years to come back, that's quite a bit of my retirement," said Shareen Martin, who retired last year.

"It's a strain. It's a strain, but we're doing it," said Robert Goebel, who retired 10 years ago. "We don't travel as much as we might have done when I first retired, like taking a trip to Las Vegas, for example."

The stock market's recent slide forced Martin, a longtime Madison resident, to change her plan for relaxation after years of work.

"We'll travel in this country, but as far as traveling to China or Australia, that's a major trip and expensive travel; we'll definitely put that off," Martin said.

At 62, Martin has found work once again, putting in part-time hours at the Wisconsin health care company she left late last year.

Goebel, 70, is drawing on his background in sales and putting his passion for food back to work as well.

"You've been in supermarkets where a gal or someone is giving out samples and whatnot, and it's for sale and all that, and I enjoy that because I was in sales almost my whole life anyway," Goebel said.

Financial expert Brent Lindell, of Savant Capital Management, said he hears every day how today's economy has changed the game for retirees. He said the economy has prompted financial planning questions that require careful consideration.

"What if I live to a ripe old age of 95 versus a more average age that's less than 95? Probably eight out of 10 would not want to retire. They would recognize that they need to give themselves some time," Lindell said.

In spite of Wall Street's nose dive, Lindell said those wishing to retire soon can still make it work.

He said he advises people to take a look at where their stand financially, determine how much they'll need to live on and then budget to support that.

"There are no guarantees, but careful planning is the best way to accomplish that goal," Lindell said.

It's planning that both Martin and Goebel said they've done, but they their work after retirement and smart spending habits are helping.

"It gives me a little extra spending money occasionally, for a hunting trip or whatnot or a special fishing trip to Minnesota," Goebel said.

"I used to like to stop and get a latte once in a while, and now I really think about that," Martin said.

Goebel's work at a grocery store recently ended, and Martin's work will end soon. Both said they would continue working if they find the right opportunity -- not just for the money but because they enjoy it as well.

Experts said medical costs are one reason that a lot of people who maybe wanted to retire a little early are waiting. Medicare kicks in at 65, and experts said that some people are trying to push it a few more years before they retire.

Nationwide, the reason that so many are rethinking retirement has to do with the slide in stocks. Sixty-three percent said they own stock, individually or through mutual funds, IRAs or 401(k)s, and seven of 10 have lost money, according to the AARP.

It's prompted 41 percent of these investors to change their investment strategy to include more or less risk.