PITTSBURGH -- Pulling your retirement money out of the stock market in order to stop the current financial bleeding could cost you even more.

There are some better ways for investors to recover some of the recent losses.

One of the reasons for all the volatility in the market is the panic of nervous investors. Some people worried about their retirement savings are dumping stocks.

While that might save you money today, it could cost you dearly in the long run.

Investors like Rita Journic, who was close to retirement, say following the stock market is the equivalent of watching your money disappear.

"Two weeks ago I was thinking three more years and I maybe, maybe could do it. Now, who knows when?" Journic said.

Putting off retirement for a few more years may be a tough pill to swallow, but it's one many financial experts now generally recommend as long as it's not too great a burden.

Waiting is among the easiest ways to re-coup some of your recent market losses. Michael Saghy is Director of Investments with PNC Pittsburgh. He said if you retire right now, you will lose money.

"Well, you're basically taking a double hit from the fact you cannot accumulate more and you are not adding to your retirement assets. And then you're also locking in the losses that we've experienced over the last 30 to 60 days," Saghy said.

History has proven that the market always comes back, and comes back stronger. But it takes time, sometimes years.

Now may be a good time to put even more money into your 401K. If your retirement losses are substantial, one of the worst things to do is pull your money out now that the market has already plunged, then wait to put it back in.

"By saying you're going to try to time the market, you're risking potentially 75 percent of your opportunity," said Saghy.

The reason is that historically, every year, 75 percent of the market's gains are made in just 10 big days. Over a 10-year-period, 90 percent of the market's gains are made in just 30 big days, and no one knows when those days are really coming.

For now, Journic is refusing to panic.

"You've got to hang in there. It's the only thing you can do right now," Journic said.

And experts also say don't compromise your retirement savings to pay for a child's college tuition.