How can high credit card debt affect one's long-term financial goals?

High credit card debt can significantly hinder an individual's ability to save for future investments, which is why the first option is the correct answer. When a person has high levels of debt, a large portion of their income is often allocated towards making minimum payments on these debts, leaving them with little to no disposable income for savings or investing in future opportunities. This constraint can lead to missed chances to grow wealth, such as contributing to retirement accounts, investing in stocks, or even making down payments on homes.

In contrast to the correct answer, the other options do not accurately reflect the impact of high credit card debt. Quick improvements in credit scores are typically associated with responsible management of debt rather than having high debt levels, which can actually hurt credit scores if balances are high relative to credit limits. High-value purchases may seem attractive, but accumulating debt can lead to financial instability, making it challenging to make such purchases without further exacerbating one's financial situation. Lastly, stating that high credit card debt has no effect on financial planning ignores the reality that it can create barriers to achieving important long-term financial goals.