A man is only as good as his word. I have lived by these words my whole life, and I intend to continue doing so until my time on this earth passes. When a man gives his word, he must keep it at all costs. This is not negotiable.
How, then, does one reconcile ruthlessly meeting the obligations of his word with living as simple a life as possible? Easy. Do not make promises lightly. Think long and hard before agreeing to do something. Once you've given your word, it's your obligation to follow through. Choose wisely.