The severity of the sin of vows is well-known as because of the sin of vows a person’s wife and children die, and Chazal say that a person who makes a vow is called a sinner. This is true not only when he vows explicitly, but also when he has said that he would perform a good deed, or he did a good deed without specifying that it does not constitute a vow, that he remains with the obligations of a vow.
A man who fears Hashem, will make sure that he specifies that everything will be without a vow, and that even if he has performed a good deed for a period of time, that he will not be left with the obligation of a vow, and that he may withdraw whenever he wishes. If he promises something to charity, he may not delay in paying it. If he made a vow, he should approach a wise man to repeal it. After that, he should do what he said. Even when he does not vow, he should fulfil that which he said if he can, as that is the correct path.
